A descriptive online survey about the knowledge of palliative care residents of Saudi Arabia has compared to the general worldwide population

Background Palliative care is among the standards of care in cancer treatment that should be provided to those in need within the existing healthcare system. In Ethiopia, patients with cervical cancer experience a long wait for curative radiotherapy, while the level of palliative care delivery is unknown. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the practice of palliative care among women diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Using a structured questionnaire, face-to-face interviews were made with randomly selected patients with advanced cervical cancer. Information on patient characteristics, medical records, and knowledge, attitude and practice of palliative care was captured, analysed, and presented. Data collection was conducted following ethical standards after obtaining approval from the hospital. Results A total of 385 patients were interviewed, most of whom were over 50 years and illiterate. The patients had poor knowledge regarding comprehensive palliative care, a good attitude, and poor practices. Most patients either do not know about palliative care or consider it solely as a pain treatment. The patients expressed a good attitude towards palliative care; however, their attitude towards talking about suffering, death, and dying was poor. Almost all patients have received some form of palliative care. However, poor pain control, inadequate education and counselling, and poor social, economic, and spiritual supports were documented. Conclusions Patients with advanced cervical cancer expressed a good attitude but had poor knowledge and practice of comprehensive palliative care. The palliative care delivery needs to address the communication, psychosocial, economic, and spiritual components of the comprehensive palliative care.

show abstract

“…Agree good palliative care knowledge in Zimbabwe [29] and Saudi Arabia [30]. This study documented a positive attitude towards palliative care.…”

Section: Attitude Itemsmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Similarly, only 29% of adults in the United States expressed good knowledge regarding palliative care [ 28 ]. In addition, only 29% of the patients reported good palliative care knowledge in Zimbabwe [ 29 ] and Saudi Arabia [ 30 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital-based evaluation of palliative care among patients with advanced cervical cancer: a cross-sectional study

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…study from Sweden, 41% of respondents had not known what palliative care was; 43% had heard of palliative care, however, they only had superficial knowledge [37]. In summary, there is a lack of nuanced knowledge within the general population [32,33,[38][39][40][41]. Participants were not able to specifically name the services included in palliative care, such as the care of relatives or the approach to symptom control on multiple, for example, spiritual or psychological, dimensions [42][43][44].…”

Section: General Population: Knowledge and Perception Of Palliative Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was primarily the age group of people aged 45 to 64 that showed more knowledge compared with younger age groups [31,37,46,47,[55][56][57][58][59][60][61]. In summary, there is a lack of nuanced knowledge within the general population [32,33,[38][39][40][41]. Participants were not able to specifically name the services included in palliative care, such as the care of relatives or the approach to symptom control on multiple, for example, spiritual or psychological, dimensions [42][43][44].…”

Section: General Population: Knowledge and Perception Of Palliative Carementioning

confidence: 99%

The General Public and Young Adults’ Knowledge and Perception of Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

Batzler,

Schallenburger,

Schwartz

et al. 2024

Healthcare

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: As a result of demographic change, chronic and oncological diseases are gaining importance in the context of public health. Palliative care plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of life of those affected. International guidelines demand access to palliative care not only for the elderly but also for younger people who face severe illnesses. It can be assumed that palliative care will become increasingly important for them. In order to develop public health strategies which are able to promote palliative care, it is important to assess the knowledge of, and attitude towards, palliative care as found among members of the general public and its specific target groups. In particular, little is known about young adults’ knowledge and perceptions of palliative care. Objectives and design: This work aimed to assess the understanding and viewpoints regarding palliative care among the general population and among young adults aged 18 to 24. We therefore conducted a systematic review, which, for this target population, could be seen as a novel approach. Methods: Exclusion and inclusion criteria were developed using the PICOS process. Literature was researched within MEDLINE (via PubMed), Google Scholar and Web of Science. A search string was developed and refined for all three databases. Grey literature was included. Duplicates were excluded using Mendeley. The literature was independently screened by two researchers. Narrative synthesis was used to answer the main research question. Results: For the general public, palliative care is still associated with death and dying and comforting sick people towards the end of their lives. Multiple social determinants are linked to better knowledge of palliative care: higher education, higher income, female gender, having relatives that received palliative care, and permanent employment. The population’s knowledge of palliative care structures increases, the longer such structures have been established within a country. Young adults are familiar with the term palliative care, yet their understanding lacks nuance. They associate palliative care with death and dying and perceive palliative care to be a medical discipline primarily for the elderly. Nevertheless, young adults demand participation within the planning of interventions to destigmatize palliative care. Conclusions: The general public still lacks a detailed understanding of palliative care. Palliative care faces stigma at multiple levels, which creates barriers for those who set out to implement it. However, addressing young adults as a crucial peer group can help break down barriers and promote access to palliative care.

show abstract

“… 3 Enthusiasm and endorsement worldwide for children to receive these services and its association with potential improvement in their quality of life have led to the recognition of pediatric services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). 4–7 Despite the recognition of specialized pediatric palliative services in the developed world, there are still relatively few children in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the developing world who have ready access to these facilities. 8 , 9 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception Toward Pediatric Palliative Care in Saudi Arabia: A National Exploratory Survey

Khan,

Sadler,

Sidiqui

et al. 2023

Palliative Medicine Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) helps maintain the quality of life for both children and their families. It has been identified as an important goal within the global health agenda. In Saudi Arabia, the discipline remains in its infancy, as illustrated by the absence of PPC programs in academic and health care institutions. Aim: The aim was to conduct a pilot study assessing physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward PPC. Method: Data were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire sent to physicians working in Saudi Arabia. Results: One hundred twelve completed the survey (male 54.2%, n = 50). A total of 40.8% ( n = 42) had 20 years or more of experience, 42.9% ( n = 48) were from the hematology-oncology specialty, and 68.5% ( n = 74) received no training in PPC. Half suggested that children should be informed of their condition but mostly when reaching 12 or 15 years of age. Various physicians reported that the most appropriate time to discuss a transition to palliative care goals is when diagnosing an incurable condition or when despite all efforts, a condition continues to progress and death is expected. Conclusion: Multiple gaps were identified. PPC basic concepts should be included in the formal medical curriculum (e.g., pain management, communication, and ethical considerations at the end of life). There is also a significant need to develop further both primary and specialized palliative care.

show abstract

A descriptive online survey about the knowledge of palliative care residents of Saudi Arabia has compared to the general worldwide population

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Hospital-based evaluation of palliative care among patients with advanced cervical cancer: a cross-sectional study

Hospital-based evaluation of palliative care among patients with advanced cervical cancer: a cross-sectional study

The General Public and Young Adults’ Knowledge and Perception of Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception Toward Pediatric Palliative Care in Saudi Arabia: A National Exploratory Survey

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About