Effect of palliative care training on knowledge and self-efficacy of nursing student: a quasi-experimental study

Introduction Palliative care is a vital aspect of holistic healthcare, demanding that nurses possess adequate knowledge and confidence to deliver compassionate, patient-centered support. Despite its importance, nursing students in Iran often lack structured education in palliative care, which may hinder their ability to deliver effective and comprehensive care to individuals facing severe health conditions. To address this gap, the current study aimed to evaluate effect of palliative care training on knowledge and self-efficacy of nursing student in Iran. Method This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2024 with 70 nursing students recruited through convenience sampling from a hospital in Tehran. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Those in the intervention group attended specialized palliative care workshops, while the control group continued with the standard nursing curriculum. Data were collected both before and after the intervention using two standardized instruments: the Palliative Care Knowledge Test and the Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess differences within and between groups. Results At baseline, no significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of mean knowledge scores (7.77 ± 3.36 vs. 6.42 ± 2.58; p = 0.06). Similarly, the self-efficacy scores were not significantly different prior to the intervention (1041.00 ± 286.66 vs. 949.85 ± 127.84; p = 0.09). However, post-intervention results showed a significant improvement in the intervention group’s knowledge scores compared to the control group (9.40 ± 2.56 vs. 5.57 ± 2.17; p < 0.001). Additionally, self-efficacy scores in the intervention group increased notably and were significantly higher than those in the control group after the educational intervention (1138.14 ± 221.24 vs. 958.25 ± 149.05; p < 0.001). Conclusion This study showed that workshop training is effective on nursing students' knowledge and self-efficacy in palliative care. Therefore, it is suggested that integrating palliative care training into the undergraduate nursing curriculum should help develop nurses' knowledge and skills in caring for patients with life-threatening conditions .