Exploring Spiritual Care Competence Among Nursing Assistants in Chinese Nursing Homes: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Knowledge–Attitude–Practice Theory

IF 3.7 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

International Nursing Review Pub Date : 2025-09-29 DOI:10.1111/inr.70105

Qian Li, Jinlian Wu, Ting Fang, Yanxiang Wu, Ping Yuan, Xiaoying Zhong, Meng Wang, Yiying Zhang, Jiling Ye, Limei Zhang

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Abstract

Aim

This study, based on the knowledge–attitude–practice theory, investigates the spiritual care competence of Chinese nursing assistants and its influencing factors to inform targeted training programs.

Background

With the aging population, China's traditional family-based model of elderly care has shifted to the current trend of greater reliance on nursing homes. Spiritual care competence among nursing assistants is crucial to delivering holistic care to older people. Assessing and strengthening this competence helps meet older people's needs for high-quality elderly care services and improves the service quality of nursing homes.

Methods

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Nursing assistants (n = 578) from multiple nursing homes in Chengdu, China, were recruited by convenience sampling between December 2023 and May 2024 by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study used an online questionnaire to assess the nursing assistants’ sociodemographic characteristics, spiritual care perception, spiritual care attitude, and spiritual care competence.

Results

This study found that the mean spiritual care competence score among nursing assistants was (2.63 ± 1.00), indicating a moderate level. According to stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, years of work, understanding of spiritual care, spiritual care perception, and spiritual care attitude were significant predictive factors affecting the spiritual care competence of nursing assistants, explaining 45.1% of the total variance.

Conclusion

To improve nursing assistants’ spiritual care competence in Chinese nursing homes, it is essential to enhance their perception and attitude toward spiritual care through targeted training strategies.

Implications for nursing policy

Managers should improve relevant policies, address nursing assistants’ training needs in spiritual care, and develop effective training strategies to enhance their spiritual care competence, thereby continuously improving the quality of services in nursing homes.

Abstract Image

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基于知识-态度-实践理论的中国养老院护理员精神关怀能力的横断面研究

目的：本研究基于知识-态度-实践理论，调查我国护理员的精神护理能力及其影响因素，为有针对性的培训提供依据。背景：随着人口老龄化，中国传统的以家庭为基础的养老模式已经转变为目前更多依赖养老院的趋势。护理助理的精神护理能力是为老年人提供全面护理的关键。评估和加强这方面的能力，有助满足长者对优质安老服务的需要，并改善安老院的服务质素。方法：这是一项描述性横断面研究。采用便利抽样方法，于2023年12月至2024年5月间按照预先设定的纳入和排除标准，从中国成都市多家养老院招募护工578名。本研究采用在线问卷对护理助理的社会人口学特征、精神护理感知、精神护理态度和精神护理能力进行评估。结果：本研究发现护理员精神关怀能力得分均值为（2.63±1.00）分，处于中等水平。逐步多元线性回归分析显示，工作年限、精神护理理解、精神护理感知、精神护理态度是影响护理员精神护理能力的显著预测因素，解释总方差的45.1%。结论：要提高我国养老院护理员的精神护理能力，必须通过有针对性的培训策略，增强护理员对精神护理的认知和态度。对护理政策的启示：管理者应完善相关政策，解决护理员在精神护理方面的培训需求，制定有效的培训策略，提高护理员的精神护理能力，从而不断提高养老院的服务质量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Nursing Review 医学-护理

CiteScore

7.90

自引率

7.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： International Nursing Review is a key resource for nurses world-wide. Articles are encouraged that reflect the ICN"s five key values: flexibility, inclusiveness, partnership, achievement and visionary leadership. Authors are encouraged to identify the relevance of local issues for the global community and to describe their work and to document their experience.