Palliative care knowledge among nursing students at a Polish medical university: a cross-sectional study

Introduction Non-communicable diseases, such as neurological disorders manifesting as dementia, often necessitate a shift in the nature of care – from long-term to palliative. Nurses play a particularly important role in this transition, as they spend the most time with patients: both in healthcare facilities and in home-care settings. Their competencies begin to develop already during their medical education. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess nursing students’ knowledge of palliative care. Methods The university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing students ( n = 925) from one of the oldest and leading universities in Poland. The study was based on a survey questionnaire consisted of a demographic part, Palliative Care Knowledge (PaCKs) scale, and 17 closed-ended, single-choice questions evaluating the students’ detailed knowledge of palliative care. Statistical significance ( p < 0.05) was determined using the Chi-square test. Results Polish nursing students ( n = 925; average response rate, 83%) demonstrate a moderate level of knowledge regarding palliative care, as reflected in both the 13-item PaCKs scale score (9.64 ± 1.99; mean ± SD) and the percentage of correct answers to 17 researcher-developed questions (53.25%). Associations were identified between correct answers on the PaCKs scale and the age of respondents (7 items; p = 0.0024–0.0438), year of study (6 items; p = 0.001–0.0499), and place of residence (2 items; p = 0.0121 and 0.0266). Only one-fifth of respondents had ever considered pursuing a career in palliative care after graduation. Conclusions Although the results of the study were relatively satisfactory, it is evident that nursing students require greater clarity and a deeper understanding of the nuances of palliative care. Addressing this knowledge gap may be achieved through comprehensive education that covers palliative, hospice, and long-term care, clarifying the appropriate contexts for each. Some of the more unexpected observations warrant further investigation.