Ann Palliat Care Med | Volume 3, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Fernandez RM and Satrain JNT*
Department of Family and Community Medicine, New Sinai MDI Hospital, Philippines
*Correspondance to: Jose Noel T Satrain
Fulltext PDFBackground: The end-of-life care presents many challenges for physicians, as well as for patients and their families. It is devastating to hear a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. But with the help of palliative care, patients and their families can face the context of death more courageously. Study Objectives: The objective is to determine the baseline knowledge, attitude, and practices on palliative care among resident physicians in a government hospital in Parañaque. Methodology: The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design. A 40-item self-administered questionnaire was devised, pilot-tested, and distributed to 133 respondents at government hospital in Parañaque from March to April 2022. Study Results: A total of 133 questionnaires were distributed with 100% response. Awareness on palliative care was at (71.43%). However, only (6.77%) of the respondents had training on palliative care. 90 (67%) of the respondents had sufficient knowledge about palliative care, while 43 (32%) had poor knowledge on palliative care. Respondents scored similarly on the knowledge subcategories of pain and physical symptoms management. However, on palliative care principles, 106 (79.70%) of the respondents believed that palliative care should only be provided for a patient who has no curative treatment available and 99 (74.44%) answered that palliative care service does not extend after death. All of the respondents obtained 50% and above on the total Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) Score, signifying a favorable attitude towards providing care to people who are terminally ill and their families. Among the 133 respondents, the evaluated practices were as follows: 103 (77%) respondents always initiate palliative care discussion to patients already approaching the end-of-life stage. 86 (65%) respondents often consider the socio-cultural and psychological factors in dealing with terminally ill patients. 10 (8%) resident physicians who would always assess their patients’ and family’s perspective on death, suffering and grief. 88 (66%) respondents always involve family members in the patient's clinical care. 3 (2%) respondents always perform clinical assessment of their patients’ spirituality. 18 (14%) respondents always assess dietary preferences of their patients. Lastly, 5 (4%) respondents always prescribed opioids to patients experiencing severe or chronic pain. Conclusion: The study provided the baseline knowledge, attitudes and practices of physicians towards palliative care. The findings of this study conducted suggested that physicians are knowledgeable and demonstrated favorable attitudes towards palliative care. However, some practices in relation to palliative care may be inadequate in terms of timing of referral to palliative care service, assessment of patient’s spirituality, and prescribing of opioids to patients experiencing chronic moderate to severe pain. We recommend integration of palliative care education among resident physicians to provide effective practices towards patients and their families and as they approach end-of-life care.
Palliative care; Palliative medicine; Parañaque
Fernandez RM, Satrain JNT. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Palliative Care among Resident Physicians in a Government Hospital in Parañaque: A Cross-Sectional Study. Ann Palliat Care Med. 2024; 3(1): 1009..