Nurses’ perceptions of the obstacles and supportive behaviors of end-of-life care in intensive care units

This study examined the Jordanian registered nurses’ perceptions of the obstacles and supportive behaviors of End-of-Life Care in Intensive Care Units and examined the differences in the concepts based on the samples’ demographics. A cross-sectional and comparative study was conducted using a convenience sample of 230 Intensive Care Unit registered nurses in Jordan. Data were analyzed descriptively, and differences were measured using the independent sample t-test, the one-way Analysis of Variance, and Scheffe’s post hoc test. The registered nurses’ scored moderately on obstacles (74.98 ± 14.54) and supportive behaviors (69.22 ± 4.84). The commonly perceived obstacle and supportive behaviors to End-of-Life Care in Intensive Care Units s were reported. The perceived obstacles differ based on the registered nurses’ certification as an Intensive Care Units nurse (3.04 ± 0.58 vs. 2.74 ± 0.49, p = 0.008), type of Intensive Care Unit (3.28 ± 0.34 vs. 2.86 ± 0.62, p < 0.001), type of facility (3.16 ± 0.59 vs. 2.77 ± 0.61, p < 0.001), number of beds in the unit (3.07 ± 0.48 vs. 2.69 ± 0.48, p = 0.020), and the number of hours worked per week (3.06 ± 0.56 vs. 2.81 ± 0.60, p = 0.005). In contrast, supportive behaviors only differ based on the registered nurses’ age (3.22 ± 0.69 vs. 2.90 ± 0.64, p = 0.019). The common End-of-Life Care perceived obstacle in Intensive Care Units was the lack of nursing education and training regarding the studies concept, which warrants immediate intervention such as on-job training. The common End-of-Life Care perceived supportive behavior in Intensive Care Units was when family members accepted that the patient was dying when nurses offered support to family members; motivational interventions are needed to sustain such behavior. Differences in the perceived obstacles and supportive behaviors should be leveraged for the benefit of patients, nurses, and hospitals. Este estudio examinó las percepciones de las enfermeras registradas jordanas sobre los obstáculos y comportamientos de apoyo de la atención al final de la vida en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos y examinó las diferencias en los conceptos basados en la demografía de las muestras. Se realizó un estudio transversal y comparativo utilizando una muestra de conveniencia de 230 enfermeras registradas en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos en Jordania. Los datos se analizaron descriptivamente y las diferencias se midieron mediante la prueba t de muestra independiente, el análisis u