Rajaragupathy Sujatha1, Karthikeyan Jayagowri2. 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. 2. Undergraduate Student, Department of Biochemistry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Palliative care knowledge is being given meager importance in the curriculum of medical and other allied medical sciences. It is vital that all health care practitioners including medical, pharmacy, physiotherapy and nursing are aware and apply the best principles of palliative care. AIM: To assess the awareness of palliative care among undergraduate students of medical, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included total of 200 students. Among 200 students, 50 were from each of the colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy. After obtaining informed consent, questionnaire was given. The questionnaire contained the sociodemographic profile and 35 statements under nine groups, for which the respondents were expected to answer one out of the three options (Yes, No, Don't know). The groups of statements deal with palliative care definition, its philosophy, communication issues, non-pain symptoms, medications use and context of application of palliative care. RESULTS: It was found that less than 20% of nursing students were unaware of palliative care. Among the undergraduates of college of pharmacy, more than 50% had no knowledge of palliative care. More than 80% of physiotherapy, nursing and medical students agree that death should occur without any pain or symptoms. The need of palliative care was well understood by more than 70% of students of physiotherapy, pharmacy, nursing and medical colleges. CONCLUSION: Basic knowledge about palliative care was inadequate among the undergraduate students related to healthcare.
INTRODUCTION: Palliative care knowledge is being given meager importance in the curriculum of medical and other allied medical sciences. It is vital that all health care practitioners including medical, pharmacy, physiotherapy and nursing are aware and apply the best principles of palliative care. AIM: To assess the awareness of palliative care among undergraduate students of medical, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included total of 200 students. Among 200 students, 50 were from each of the colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy. After obtaining informed consent, questionnaire was given. The questionnaire contained the sociodemographic profile and 35 statements under nine groups, for which the respondents were expected to answer one out of the three options (Yes, No, Don't know). The groups of statements deal with palliative care definition, its philosophy, communication issues, non-pain symptoms, medications use and context of application of palliative care. RESULTS: It was found that less than 20% of nursing students were unaware of palliative care. Among the undergraduates of college of pharmacy, more than 50% had no knowledge of palliative care. More than 80% of physiotherapy, nursing and medical students agree that death should occur without any pain or symptoms. The need of palliative care was well understood by more than 70% of students of physiotherapy, pharmacy, nursing and medical colleges. CONCLUSION: Basic knowledge about palliative care was inadequate among the undergraduate students related to healthcare.
Entities:
Keywords:
Knowledge; Questionnaire-based study; Undergraduate medical education
Authors: Christopher M Herndon; Douglas Nee; Rabia S Atayee; David S Craig; Julie Lehn; Pamela S Moore; Suzanne Amato Nesbit; James B Ray; Bridget Fowler Scullion; Robert G Wahler; Julie Waldfogel Journal: Am J Health Syst Pharm Date: 2016-09-01 Impact factor: 2.637
Authors: Huyen Thi Thanh Vu; Long Hoang Nguyen; Thanh Xuan Nguyen; Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen; Tam Ngoc Nguyen; Huong Thi Thu Nguyen; Anh Trung Nguyen; Thang Pham; Cuong Tat Nguyen; Bach Xuan Tran; Carl A Latkin; Cyrus S H Ho; Roger C M Ho Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-07-25 Impact factor: 3.390