Ms Geruna Sumbou1
1Port Moresby General Hospital, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Biography:
Geruna Sumbou is a dedicated Registered Nurse and Team Leader at Port Moresby General Hospital, with over a decade of clinical experience in medical and critical care in Papua New Guinea. Her leadership includes staff coordination, administrative duties, and mentoring nursing students. Committed to improving patient outcomes, her recent research assesses palliative care knowledge, attitudes, and practices among nurses in PNG. As lead author of a study published in BMC Health Services Research, she aims to address critical gaps in nursing education and practice, highlighting her dedication to strengthening healthcare systems and promoting evidence-based, compassionate care in her country.
Abstract:
Background:
Papua New Guinea faces a rising burden of cancer and serious illnesses, yet palliative care access is hindered by systemic challenges including a shortage of trained professionals. Nurses are pivotal in delivery, but their capacity is poorly understood. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of palliative care among nurses to identify gaps and inform interventions.
Aims:
To: 1) Assess the KAP of palliative care among nurses in Papua New Guinea, 2) Determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors and KAP, and 3) Examine the correlations between knowledge, attitude, and practice.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2024 using a validated, selfadministered questionnaire. A sample of 150 registered nurses from two major hospitals participated. Data collected included demographics and scales measuring knowledge (10 items), attitude (9 items, Likert scale), and practice (10 items, Likert scale). Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, t-tests, and Pearson correlation were used for analysis.
Results:
Participants demonstrated low mean knowledge scores (5.09/10), with only 13.3% having adequate knowledge. In contrast, attitudes were favourable (mean 25.51/45; 70% favourable) and practice levels were high (mean 37.69/50; 84% good practice). Knowledge scores were significantly higher among nurses aged 41-60, those with >6 years of experience, and those holding a degree (p<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between knowledge and practice (r=0.502, p<0.001), and a moderate correlation between attitude and practice (r=0.447, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
While nurses in Papua New Guinea exhibit positive attitudes and high participation in palliative care, significant knowledge deficits exist. The strong correlation between knowledge and practice underscores the critical need for integrating systematic palliative care training into nursing education and implementing ongoing professional development programs to enhance evidence-based care.
Keywords:
knowledge; attitude; practice; palliative care; nurse; Papua New Guinea