Palliative Care Practices Among Physicians Providing Palliative Care to Terminally Ill Cancer Patients – A Cross Sectional Study in A Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: To find out palliative care practices among physicians providing care to terminally ill cancer patients.
 Methods: The study was cross-sectional in nature, conducted in a tertiary care hospital from July 2015 to September 2017 using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire among physicians providing care to terminally ill cancer patients. A universal sample of 42 doctors involved in providing health services to terminally ill cancer patients were included in. The analysis was done using SPSS v. 20.0.
 Results: Most of the physicians involved in care giving to the terminally ill were specialist care providers (67%) and only 1/5th of the physicians had received training on palliative care. Physicians who had either had training or had a personal loss of near and dear one through the state of terminal illness showed much compassionate care giving attitude. 83% physicians had a positive care giving attitude towards their patients.
 Conclusion: Family and physician interactions need to be improved so as to facilitate better care for the terminally ill patients. There should be regular trainings organised for physicians and other health care providers dealing with terminal illness so they can provide best palliative care to their patients.