ABSTRACT

This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of geriatric nurses towards end-of-life care for older adults in a tertiary health institution in Benin City. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from geriatric nurses regarding their demographic profiles, understanding of end-of-life care principles, and attitudes towards providing such care. The findings revealed that while the majority of participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge in critical areas such as setting patient care goals, symptom recognition, and non-drug symptom management, limitations were noted in addressing spiritual needs and providing grief counseling. Furthermore, most nurses maintained a positive attitude towards end-of-life care, viewing it as a meaningful aspect of their professional practice; however, some expressed discomfort in discussing death directly with patients. Hypothesis testing revealed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between nurses' knowledge and their attitudes regarding end-of-life care, affirming that increased knowledge is associated with more favorable attitudes. This study underscores the necessity of enhancing palliative care training for geriatric nurses, particularly in holistic approaches that integrate spiritual and emotional support, thereby improving the quality of care provided to older adults during critical end-of-life stages.

     Keywords: end-of-life care, geriatric nursing, older adults, knowledge, attitudes, palliative care