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237001

Primary Care Physicians’ Knowledge and Attitude towards Palliative Care. Is it time for integration?

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Purpose: Despite the unquestionable role of the primary care physicians in carrying the majority of high-quality care for patients under palliative care is well-known, especially with the senior population, it is still not clear what their existing level of knowledge and attitude toward palliative care is. Unfortunately, there is limited research. So, we aimed at detecting the knowledge and attitude of the primary care physicians toward palliative care in Kuwait. Patients and Methods: A survey using the Palliative Care Attitude and Knowledge questionnaire (PCAK) applied to twenty-five primary care clinics in Kuwait was selected by stratified random sampling method and 284 physicians were included. Results: The response rate was 79.2%(n=225). The uncertain attitude toward palliative care was reported in 53.3% (n=120) of primary care physicians while only 15(6.7%) had good knowledge. Only 31.2% reported excellent or very good experience in the management of pain and other symptoms respectively. Moreover, unfamiliarity with palliative care services in their community or length and types of coverage under palliative care benefits was reported in 141(62.7%) and 119 (52.9%). Regarding opioid initiation, types, toxicity and its role in refractory dyspnea, and the proper management of catastrophic bleeding, less than 50% responded appropriately. A higher knowledge score was a positive prognosticator for more optimistic attitude scores (OR: 1.088, 95% CI: 1.012-1.170, P-value: 0.023) Conclusion: The uncertain attitude and poor knowledge were reported in the majority of primary care physicians toward palliative care. Integrating palliative care into primary health care systems has to be initiated as possible to lessen the suffering of those patients and to meet the challenges of the ageing society. 

DOI

10.21608/ejgg.2022.237001

Keywords

Ageing, Integration, Kuwait, opioids, Palliative Care, PCAK, Primary Care Physician

Authors

First Name

Wafaa

Last Name

Abdel Gawad

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Associate Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Ameena

Last Name

Al-Ansari

MiddleName

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Affiliation

¹Palliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Health Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.

Email

dr_alansari@hotmail.com

City

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Orcid

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First Name

Saleem

Last Name

Suroor

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Palliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Health Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.

Email

bonawaf77@gmail.com

City

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Orcid

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First Name

Sobhi

Last Name

Aboserea

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

¹Palliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Health Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.

Email

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City

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Orcid

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Volume

9

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

34128

Issue Date

2022-03-01

Receive Date

2022-05-14

Publish Date

2022-03-01

Page Start

20

Page End

31

Print ISSN

2356-8712

Online ISSN

2536-9792

Link

https://ejgg.journals.ekb.eg/article_237001.html

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https://ejgg.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=237001

Order

3

Type

Original Article

Type Code

365

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

The Egyptian Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology

Publication Link

https://ejgg.journals.ekb.eg/

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023