Influence of Positive Psychological Capital and Death Awareness on Terminal Care Performance of Hematooncology Unit Nurses

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm the influence of hematoonchology unit nurses’ positive psychological capital and death awareness on their terminal care performance. Methods: This descriptive study data were collected from self-reported questionnaire filled by 127 oncology nurses at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The variables were positive psychological capital, death awareness, and terminal care performance. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 software. Results: The participants scored 3.93±0.83 on positive psychological capital, 3.68±0.99 on death awareness and 2.86±0.65 on terminal care performance. The three variables were positively correlated. The factors affecting the nurses’ terminal care performance were hope and resilience in the subcategory of positive psychological capital and experience of death of family members, relatives or friends within the past year; The explanatory power was 32.1%. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop educational programs to foster hope, resilience, etc. in hematooncology unit nurses to improve their quality of terminal care performance.