Table 1 PPCAS Subscale Comparisons Between Groups

Unit Support (α = 0.87)^c

2.80 (0.89)

3.42 (0.86)

3.02 (0.89)

t=-5.882

< 0.001

5. The medical staff supports palliative care for dying children in my work setting

3.69 (1.07)

4.06 (1.25)

3.79 (1.13)

6. The physical environment of my work setting is ideal for providing palliative care to dying children

2.91 (1.18)

2.65 (1.33)

2.84 (1.23)

7. My work setting is adequately staffed for providing the needs of dying children requiring palliative care and their families

2.73 (1.20)

2.45 (1.52)

2.66 (1.30)

13. When a child dies in my work setting, I have sufficient time to spend with the family

2.29 (1.11)

3.35 (1.34)

2.57 (1.26)

14. There are policies/guidelines to assist in the delivery of palliative care in my work setting

2.36 (1.11)

2.82 (1.40)

2.48 (1.21)

15. In my work setting, when a diagnosis with a likely poor outcome is made, parents are informed of palliative care options

2.85 (1.21)

3.88 (1.16)

3.12 (1.28)

16. In my work setting, the team expresses its opinions, values, and beliefs about providing care to dying children

2.77 (1.23)

3.99 (1.20)

3.09 (1.34)

19. All members of the healthcare team in my work setting agree with and support palliative care when it is implemented for a dying child

3.44 (1.04)

4.19 (1.03)

3.63 (1.09)

Personal Obstacles (α = 0.71)

2.25 (0.58)

3.50 (0.76)

2.58 (0.84)

t=-16.113

< 0.001

3. I feel a sense of personal failure when a child dies^d

1.68 (0.89)

3.56 (1.23)

2.17 (1.29)

17. Caring for dying children is traumatic for me^d

2.64 (1.16)

3.47 (1.27)

2.85 (1.24)

20. In my work setting, the staff go beyond what they feel comfortable with in using technological life support^d

2.43 (1.16)

3.60 (1.15)

2.74 (1.19)

21. In my work setting, staff are asked by parents to continue life-extending care beyond what they feel is right^d

1.84 (0.81)

3.21 (1.31)

2.20 (1.14)

22. My personal attitude about death affects my willingness to deliver palliative care^d

2.66 (0.81)

3.68 (1.47)

2.93 (1.30)

PPC Importance (α = 0.55)

3.87 (0.52)

4.51 (0.46)

4.04 (0.57)

t=-11.775

< 0.001

1. Palliative care is as important as curative care in the pediatric environment

4.18 (0.94)

4.70 (0.79)

4.32 (0.94)

10. When children are dying in my work setting, providing pain relief is a priority for me

4.12 (0.91)

4.83 (0.52)

4.30 (0.88)

12. Palliative care is necessary in pediatric education

4.46 (0.64)

4.73 (0.60)

4.53 (0.64)

23. Palliative care is against the values of pediatric medicine^d

3.96 (0.81)

4.78 (0.77)

4.18 (0.99)

26. Curative care is more important than palliative care in the pediatric intensive care environment^d

2.62 (1.12)

3.50 (1.38)

2.85 (1.25)

Work Experience (α = 0.66)

2.76 (0.92)

2.92 (0.94)

2.80 (0.93)

t=-1.534

0.126

2. I have had experience of providing palliative care to dying children and their families

2.91 (1.35)

3.62 (1.45)

3.09 (1.41)

9. My previous experiences of providing palliative care to dying children have been rewarding

2.85 (1.14)

3.84 (1.08)

3.11 (1.21)

11. I am often exposed to death in the pediatric environment

2.70 (1.35)

2.12 (1.48)

2.55 (1.41)

18. I have received in-service education that assists me to support and communicate with parents of dying children

2.58 (1.22)

2.08 (1.33)

2.45 (1.27)