Evaluation of the impact of palliative care training on nurses' performance in neonatal intensive care units

Aim: Palliative care plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for patients and their families, particularly in sensitive areas like neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where specialized and precise care is required. Enhancing the performance of nurses in providing palliative care can lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced family stress. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of palliative care training on nurses' performance in NICUs. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the impact of palliative care training on the performance of nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit. Material and Methods: In this clinical trial, nurses from Shahid Sadoughi and Afshar hospitals were randomly divided into two groups of 30 people (intervention and control). Demographic data, including the age and work experience of the nurses, were recorded in the relevant form. The performance score of nurses in palliative care was determined with a checklist made by the researcher before the training, immediately after the training, two weeks and four weeks after the training. And it was evaluated using SPSS version 25 software and statistical tests of pairs and independent t, chi-square and analysis of variance with repeated measurements. Results: : The average performance score of the nurses in the intervention group, two weeks and four weeks after training, was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.001). Additionally, in the intervention group, the performance score after the intervention at all times compared to before the intervention increased significantly (P<0.001), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Palliative care training can significantly improve nurses' performance in NICUs. These findings underscore the importance of planning and implementing regular training programs for nurses to enhance the quality of palliative care in sensitive areas.