Lack of Awareness and Common Misconceptions About Palliative Care Among Adults: Insights from a National Survey.
misconceptions
palliative care
primary care
Journal
Journal of general internal medicine
ISSN: 1525-1497
Titre abrégé: J Gen Intern Med
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8605834
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2020
07 2020
Historique:
received:
25
09
2019
accepted:
10
02
2020
pubmed:
12
3
2020
medline:
15
5
2021
entrez:
12
3
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Despite recent growth in palliative care programs palliative care remains underutilized. Studies suggest that patients and providers commonly associate palliative care with end of life, often leading to misconceptions and late referrals. To characterize self-reported palliative care knowledge and misconceptions about palliative care among US adults and demographic, health, and social role factors associated with knowledge and misconceptions. We conducted secondary data analysis of nationally representative, self-reported data from the 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, Cycle 2. We examined associations between knowledge and misconceptions about palliative care together with demographics, health care access, health status, and social roles. 3504 US adults. 2594 included in the first analysis after omitting missing cases; 683 who reported knowing about palliative care were included in the second analysis. Palliative care knowledge was self-reported in response to: "How would you describe your level of knowledge about palliative care?" Level of misconceptions was based on a series of factual and attitudinal statements about palliative care. Among US adults, 28.8% report knowing about palliative care, but only 12.6% report knowing what palliative care is and hold no misconceptions. Those most likely to report knowing about palliative care are female, college-educated, higher income, have a primary health care provider, or are a caregiver. Among those who report knowing about palliative care, misconceptions were common: 44.4% automatically think of death, 38.0% equate palliative care with hospice, 17.8% believe you must stop other treatments, and 15.9% see palliative care as giving up. US adults who have some knowledge of palliative care are most likely to confuse it with hospice but are less likely to see it as requiring forgoing treatment or as giving up. Primary care clinicians should be encouraged to communicate about palliative care with patients.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Despite recent growth in palliative care programs palliative care remains underutilized. Studies suggest that patients and providers commonly associate palliative care with end of life, often leading to misconceptions and late referrals.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize self-reported palliative care knowledge and misconceptions about palliative care among US adults and demographic, health, and social role factors associated with knowledge and misconceptions.
DESIGN
We conducted secondary data analysis of nationally representative, self-reported data from the 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, Cycle 2. We examined associations between knowledge and misconceptions about palliative care together with demographics, health care access, health status, and social roles.
PARTICIPANTS
3504 US adults. 2594 included in the first analysis after omitting missing cases; 683 who reported knowing about palliative care were included in the second analysis.
MAIN MEASURES
Palliative care knowledge was self-reported in response to: "How would you describe your level of knowledge about palliative care?" Level of misconceptions was based on a series of factual and attitudinal statements about palliative care.
KEY RESULTS
Among US adults, 28.8% report knowing about palliative care, but only 12.6% report knowing what palliative care is and hold no misconceptions. Those most likely to report knowing about palliative care are female, college-educated, higher income, have a primary health care provider, or are a caregiver. Among those who report knowing about palliative care, misconceptions were common: 44.4% automatically think of death, 38.0% equate palliative care with hospice, 17.8% believe you must stop other treatments, and 15.9% see palliative care as giving up.
CONCLUSIONS
US adults who have some knowledge of palliative care are most likely to confuse it with hospice but are less likely to see it as requiring forgoing treatment or as giving up. Primary care clinicians should be encouraged to communicate about palliative care with patients.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32157652
doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05730-4
pii: 10.1007/s11606-020-05730-4
pmc: PMC7351936
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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