Exploring the Perceived Competence and Self-Efficacy of Ontario’s Home Care Nurses in Palliative Care Palliative Care Delivery

Background: With the aging population and rise in comorbidities, the demand for palliative care (PC) continues to grow globally. PC adopts a holistic approach to supporting individuals with life-limiting illnesses by focusing on symptom management, maximizing comfort, and prioritizing quality of life. Integrating PC within the community enables patients to receive care in the comfort of their homes, promotes family involvement, and offers cost-effective solutions. Despite its benefits, home care providers report challenges in their ability to provide competent and effective PC which may impact the overall quality of care delivered to patients and their families. Limited research has explored how nurses perceive their own competence and self-efficacy in PC delivery, particularly in home care settings. Objective: This cross-sectional study explored Ontario home care nurses’ perceived level of competence and self-efficacy in PC delivery. Methods: An online survey was created using two validated scales and additional questions based on the literature. Study information was disseminated by home care and professional nursing organizations in December 2024. Inclusion criteria included 1) RNs or RPNs, 2) currently working as a home care nurse in Ontario, 3) had at least six months of nursing experience, and 4) had provided PC in patients’ homes. Future Applications: This study will contribute to the expanding body of research on palliative home care and may guide the direction of future research. Highlighting nurses’ educational needs underscores the importance of targeted training to enhance confidence, improve quality of care, and support the retention of nurses in the community.