Conocimiento de las enfermeras en la atención de pacientes pediátricos que acuden al área de cuidados paliativos en un hospital de la ciudad de Guayaquil.

Abstract

Pediatric palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of children with serious illnesses by addressing their physical, emotional, and family needs. It requires nurses with specific training and a humanistic approach. Objective: To determine the knowledge of nurses in the care of pediatric patients attending the palliative care unit of a hospital in the city of Guayaquil. Methodological design: Descriptive, quantitative, prospective, and cross-sectional study. Population: 108 nurses in the field of pediatric palliative care. Method: Survey. Instrument: “Knowledge of Palliative Care for Nurses” questionnaire. Results: The staff were aged between 25 and 34 (32%), predominantly female (79%), had 1 to 5 years of work experience (46%), and worked the morning shift (38%). Regarding the philosophy and principles of palliative care, a low level of knowledge prevailed (48%), with the most frequent "true" responses concerning its application only in cases of clinical deterioration (79%) and its compatibility with active treatments (69%). A high level of knowledge prevailed regarding pain management (61%), with "true" responses being particularly frequent regarding the ineffectiveness of painkillers (93%) and adjuvant therapies (77%). A medium level of knowledge prevailed in psychosocial aspects (59%), with "true" responses related to grief (69%) and family presence (87%), although limitations persisted in some emotional and family components. Conclusion: Nursing staff knowledge is high but not uniform, revealing weaknesses in theoretical foundations and the psychosocial approach, which may influence the quality of comprehensive care provided.