Publication
Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Nurses' Competence Regarding Palliative Care of Children with Cancer in Mosul City
Bko E, Khaleel R · The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN) · 2026
Introduction: Pediatric palliative care is essential for improving the quality of life of children with cancer and their families. Nurses play a critical role in delivering this care; however, many lack adequate training and competence in pediatric palliative care practices. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on nurses’ competence in providing pediatric palliative care for children with cancer. Methods: A quasi-experimental, single-group design was conducted at Al-Hadbaa Specialized Hospital, Mosul, from September 15, 2024, to March 17, 2025. A purposive sample of 25 nurses participated. Data were collected using a structured tool covering socio-demographic characteristics, four domains of knowledge, and four domains of skills related to pediatric palliative care. Competence levels were assessed pre-program, immediately post-program (post-test I), and at follow-up (post-test II). Results: Prior to the intervention, 76% of nurses were classified as Needs Improvement, and 20% were classified as Very Low in overall knowledge. Following the educational program, knowledge levels improved substantially: in post-test I, 52% of nurses achieved good, and 44% achieved Excellent classifications. Further improvement was observed at post-test II, where 60% were classified as Excellent and 36% as Good. Similarly, baseline skill levels indicated that 76% of nurses were classified as Needs Improvement before the intervention. After program implementation, post-test I results showed 48% achieving Excellent and 44% achieving Good levels. At post-test II, 64% of nurses reached Excellent, and 20% were classified as Good, demonstrating sustained improvement. Statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention phases (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes observed for both knowledge and skills. No statistically significant differences were found between post-test I and post-test II (p > 0.05), indicating retention of competence gains over time. Conclusion: The structured educational program significantly enhanced nurses’ knowledge and skills in pediatric palliative care, bridging initial competence gaps. These findings support the integration of similar training into in-service education and nursing curricula to strengthen pediatric oncology care in resource-limited settings.
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