Ethical issues in palliative care: nursing and quality of life

Abstract Background Nurses occupy a pivotal role in the provision of palliative care, acting as frontline providers who address the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients. The complexities inherent in palliative care frequently give rise to ethical dilemmas that significantly impact nurses’ decision-making and patient interactions. It is therefore essential to gain an understanding of nurses’ perceptions of ethical issues, quality of life, and adherence to patient rights in order to enhance the care delivered in these settings. Aim This study aims to assess the ethical issues encountered by nurses in palliative care, evaluate their quality of life, and measure their understanding and adherence to patient rights. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of 85 nurses working in palliative care settings, specifically within the Oncology Department and Pain Clinic at a Specialized Hospital in Egypt. A stratified random sampling technique was employed. The data were collected using standardised questionnaires, including the Ethical Issues Scale (EIS), the Nursing Quality of Life Scale (NQOLS), and the Patient Rights Questionnaire (PRQ). The validity and reliability of these instruments were established prior to the commencement of the study. The collected data were subjected to mean and standard deviation (SD) calculations. Statistical analyses, including the calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients, were conducted. Results The study sample comprised a diverse cohort of nurses, with a mean age of 40 years. The ethical issues were evaluated, yielding a mean score of 4.03 (SD = 0.74) on the EIS, with the highest score for “Patient Care” (M = 4.2, SD = 0.7). The overall quality of life mean score was 6.75, with the working dimension exhibiting the highest mean score at 7.1. The PRQ results indicated a high level of awareness regarding patient rights, with a total mean score of 49.5 (SD = 6.8). The results of the correlation analysis indicated a moderate positive correlation between ethical issues and patient rights (r = 0.52, p