Terminally Ill Patients: Self-Care Abilities and Compassion in Nurses and Informal Caregivers

Abstract

Background: Palliative care units are centers where comprehensive care is provided, primarily by nurses, but also by informal caregivers who are usually the patients' relatives. The difference is that nurses fulfill this duty professionally, and their levels of self-care and compassion are not expected to be affected by their work. In this regard, comparing the levels of compassion and self-care in patients' relatives and nurses will provide evidence to help raise awareness and support both groups. Aims: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the self-care abilities and compassion of nurses and informal caregivers. Design: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Settings/Participants: The study was conducted between August 2023 and July 2024 in palliative care units in Istanbul. A total of 98 nurses and 96 informal caregivers participated in the study. They were administered the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale and the Compassion Scale. Results: The mean compassion scores of the informal caregivers and nurses were high, with no significant difference (P > .05). However, a significant difference was observed in their self-care ability scores, with nurses scoring lower in self-care compared to informal caregivers (P < .05). Conclusions: Nurses working in palliative care had a similar level of compassion as the primary relatives of the patients. However, it is concerning that the nurses had less ability to engage in self-care than the informal caregivers. This result indicates that nurses need support to enhance their self-care.