Factors affecting end-of-life care in older persons with non-communicable diseases

Q2 Nursing

International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-23 DOI:10.1016/j.ijans.2026.101049

Cletus Kantam Laari , Emmanuel Kwame Korsah , Kamil Azabu Yakubu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

A crucial component of healthcare is end-of-life (EOL) care, especially for the elderly who frequently have numerous chronic illnesses and deteriorating health. Many methods and procedures have been established to guarantee that people receive appropriate and compassionate care during their final days, as the significance of EOL care has been acknowledged on a global scale. Managing pain and other uncomfortable symptoms, offering psychological and spiritual support, and assisting patients and their families in making decisions about their preferred course of treatment are all common components of end-of-life care. The study’s objective was to evaluate the variables influencing non-communicable disease end-of-life care for older adults.

Methods

A sample size of 153 health workers was recruited using a straightforward random sampling procedure in a descriptive cross-sectional design.

Results

The majority of health workers (60.1%) were men, and the majority (57.5%) were in their middle age (25–30 years). Of the respondents, 75.2% were registered nurses and nearly two-thirds (64.1%) were Christians. It also showed that most people (54.3%) had a solid understanding of end-of-life care, and 63.4% had a positive attitude towards it. EOL care was impacted by institutional factors, such as inadequate training on EOL care, a lack of resources, and poor communication skills among healthcare professionals. Cultural views and customs, family choices, moral conundrums surrounding end-of-life care, anxiety about caring for terminally ill patients, and the absence of established procedures for providing EOL care were other issues.

Conclusion

The study’s conclusion offers important insights on the state of nurses’ end-of-life (EOL) care today and the obstacles facing medical professionals’ attempts to improve EOL care practices. Therefore, efforts should be made to create guidelines or protocols that would facilitate the practice of end-of-life care.

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影响患有非传染性疾病的老年人临终护理的因素

医疗保健的一个重要组成部分是生命末期（EOL）护理，特别是对于经常患有多种慢性疾病和健康状况恶化的老年人。随着EOL护理的重要性在全球范围内得到认可，已经建立了许多方法和程序来保证人们在最后的日子里得到适当和富有同情心的护理。控制疼痛和其他不舒服的症状，提供心理和精神上的支持，帮助病人及其家属决定他们喜欢的治疗方案，这些都是临终关怀的共同组成部分。该研究的目的是评估影响老年人非传染性疾病临终护理的变量。方法采用描述性横断面设计的直接随机抽样方法，对153名卫生工作者进行抽样。结果卫生工作者以男性居多（60.1%），以25 ~ 30岁的中年人居多（57.5%）。受访者中，75.2%为注册护士，近三分之二（64.1%）为基督徒。调查还显示，大多数人（54.3%）对临终关怀有扎实的了解，63.4%的人对临终关怀持积极态度。EOL护理受到制度因素的影响，如EOL护理培训不足、资源缺乏以及医疗保健专业人员之间沟通技巧差。文化观点和习俗、家庭选择、围绕临终关怀的道德难题、对照顾临终病人的焦虑，以及提供临终关怀的既定程序的缺乏，都是其他问题。结论本研究的结论对当今护士临终关怀的现状以及医疗专业人员试图改善临终关怀实践所面临的障碍提供了重要的见解。因此，应该努力制定指导方针或协议，以促进临终关怀的实践。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences Nursing-Nursing (all)

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

114

审稿时长

21 weeks

期刊介绍： International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences (IJANS) is an international scientific journal published by Elsevier. The broad-based journal was founded on two key tenets, i.e. to publish the most exciting research with respect to the subjects of Nursing and Midwifery in Africa, and secondly, to advance the international understanding and development of nursing and midwifery in Africa, both as a profession and as an academic discipline. The fully refereed journal provides a forum for all aspects of nursing and midwifery sciences, especially new trends and advances. The journal call for original research papers, systematic and scholarly review articles, and critical papers which will stimulate debate on research, policy, theory or philosophy of nursing as related to nursing and midwifery in Africa, technical reports, and short communications, and which will meet the journal''s high academic and ethical standards. Manuscripts of nursing practice, education, management, and research are encouraged. The journal values critical scholarly debate on issues that have strategic significance for educators, practitioners, leaders and policy-makers of nursing and midwifery in Africa. The journal publishes the highest quality scholarly contributions reflecting the diversity of nursing, and is also inviting international scholars who are engaged with nursing and midwifery in Africa to contribute to the journal. We will only publish work that demonstrates the use of rigorous methodology as well as by publishing papers that highlight the theoretical underpinnings of nursing and midwifery as it relates to the Africa context.