Table 2. Degree of knowledge of hospice and palliative care, empathy competency, ethical nursing competency, attitude toward end-of-life care and end-of-life care competency (N=184)

Variables (number of items)	Range	Mean±SD
Knowledge of hospice and palliative care
Philosophy and principles (4)	0−20	2.40±0.87
Psychosocial aspects of care (3)		0.82±0.87
Pain and symptom management (13)		6.05±1.91
Total items		9.26±2.57
Empathy competency
Communication (8)	1−5	3.93±0.56
Sensitivity (5)		4.23±0.51
Insight (4)		3.75±0.60
Total items		3.98±0.49
Ethical nursing competency
Ethical attitude (6)	1−5	4.27±0.52
Ethical decision making and behavior (6)		4.20±0.53
Ethical sensitivity (4)		4.07±0.57
Ethical reflection (2)		3.85±0.75
Ethical knowledge (2)		3.83±0.75
Total items		4.11±0.47
Attitude toward end-of-life care
Death awareness (9)	1−5	3.82±0.46
Emotions about dying (6)		3.20±0.67
End-of-life care performance (15)		3.76±0.35
Total items		3.67±0.38
End-of-life care competency	1−4	2.65±0.61

SD: standard deviation.