Factors Influencing Terminal Care Performance in Korean Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

With the increasing demand for high-quality end-of-life care in acute settings, it has become essential to identify the factors that influence nurses’ terminal care performance. This study aimed to examine the predictors of terminal care performance among 174 nurses working in hospitals in South Korea, with a focus on physical, psychological, and spiritual domains. Using a cross-sectional survey and multiple linear regression analysis, the study found that higher terminal care stress (β = .272), a positive attitude toward terminal care (β = .273), and working in an intensive care unit (ICU) (β = .316) significantly predicted overall terminal care performance, together explaining 19.5% of the variance. Stress and attitude were associated with physical and psychological care, while spiritual care was influenced only by ICU experience and hospital size. Notably, performance in spiritual care remained lower than in other domains. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational and organizational strategies to enhance holistic terminal care.