Awareness and Attitude Toward Hospice and Palliative Care Among Healthcare Professionals in a Tertiary Hospital in China

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the awareness and attitude toward hospice and palliative care among healthcare professionals in a tertiary hospital in China.

Methods: A convenience sampling method was utilized to collect data from healthcare professionals in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. A self-designed questionnaire was employed with reference to existing tools. The survey collected participants' demographic information, previous training experience, as well as assessed their knowledge and attitudes toward hospice and palliative care.

Results: Two hundred ninteen participants were recruited. One hundred seventy-two individuals (78.5%) demonstrated awareness of hospice and palliative care. Compared to staff in other sections, healthcare professionals in the geriatrics department exhibited significantly higher levels of awareness (P = .011). Only 47 individuals (21.5%) reported having received prior training in hospice and palliative care. Two hundred nine participants (95.4%) expressed demands for further training in the related field. Further analysis revealed significant differences in the overall scores of hospice and palliative care attitudes among healthcare professionals with different educational backgrounds (P = .036). Professionals with master's and doctoral degrees scored significantly higher than those with bachelor's degrees. Healthcare professionals between the ages of 36 and 45 demonstrated higher scores than their younger counterparts, particularly in domains related to the perception and usage of hospice and palliative care (P = .020). Physicians in the geriatrics department exhibited significantly higher scores than nurses regarding attitudes toward illness and individuals with end-stage diseases.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals in tertiary hospitals possess a certain level of awareness and recognition of hospice and palliative care. This will provide an important basis for the promotion of hospice and palliative care in tertiary hospitals. Tertiary hospitals should establish hospice and palliative training centers, organize multidisciplinary cooperation teams, and carry out life and death education starting with healthcare professionals.