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Palliative care knowledge, information sources, and beliefs: Results of a national survey of adults in the USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2019

Eric Adjei Boakye*
Affiliation:
Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
Kahee A. Mohammed
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters
Affiliation:
Saint Louis University Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Min Jee Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
Lauren Slomer
Affiliation:
Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
Damilola Emuze
Affiliation:
Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
Wiley D. Jenkins
Affiliation:
Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
*
Author for correspondence: Eric Adjei Boakye, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Department of Population Science and Policy, 201 E. Madison Street, PO Box 19664, Springfield, IL 62794-9664. E-mail: eadjeiboakye49@siumed.edu

Abstract

Objective

Despite its established benefits, palliative care (PC) is not well known among patients and family/caregivers. From a nationally representative survey, we sought to assess the following associated with PC: knowledge, knowledge sources, and beliefs.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Health Information National Trends Study (HINTS 5 Cycle 2), a cross-sectional, survey of non-institutionalized adults aged 18+ years in the USA. Data were weighted and assessed by proportional comparison and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A total of 3504 respondents were identified, and approximately 29% knew about PC. In the adjusted model, less PC knowledge was associated with: lower age (those aged <50), male gender, lower education (<high school graduation or high school graduate), and non-internet users. A little over half (55%) of respondents accessed healthcare providers first for PC information, and 80% considered providers the most trusted source of PC information. Most of the participants strongly/somewhat agreed that the goal of PC is to help friends and family cope with a patient's illness (90.6%), offer social and emotional support (93.4%), and manage pain and other physical symptoms (95.1%). Similarly, a majority (83.3%) strongly/somewhat agreed that it is a doctor's obligation to inform all patients with cancer about the option of PC.

Significance of results

PC knowledge was generally low (1-in-3 respondents knew of PC), with significant differences according to age, gender, education, and internet use. These data provide a baseline from which PC education policies and interventions may be measured.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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Footnotes

*

Contributed equally to this work.

References

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