Awareness and Misperceptions of Hospice and Palliative Care: A Population-Based Survey Study
- 20 June 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®
- Vol. 35 (3), 431-439
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909117715215
Abstract
Despite the documented benefits of palliative and hospice care on improving patients’ quality of life, these services remain underutilized. Multiple factors limit the utilization of these services, including patients’ and caregivers’ lack of knowledge and misperceptions. To examine palliative and hospice care awareness, misperceptions, and receptivity among community-dwelling adults. Cross-sectional study. New York State residents ≥18 years old who participated in the 2016 Empire State Poll. Palliative and hospice care awareness, misperceptions, and receptivity. Of the 800 participants, 664 (83%) and 216 (27%) provided a definition of hospice care and palliative care, respectively. Of those who defined hospice care, 399 (60%) associated it with end-of-life care, 89 (13.4%) mentioned it was comfort care, and 35 (5.3%) reported hospice care provides care to patients and families. Of those who defined palliative care (n = 216), 57 (26.4%) mentioned it provided symptom management to patients, 47 (21.9%) stated it was comfort care, and 19 (8.8%) reported it was applicable in any course of an illness. Of those who defined hospice or palliative care, 248 (37.3%) had a misperception about hospice care and 115 (53.2%) had a misperception about palliative care. Most community-dwelling adults did not mention the major components of palliative and hospice care in their definitions, implying a low level of awareness of these services, and misinformation is common among community-dwelling adults. Palliative and hospice care education initiatives are needed to both increase awareness of and reduce misperceptions about these services.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Knowledge of palliative care and attitudes towards nursing the dying patientBritish Journal of Nursing, 2016
- Perceptions of palliative care among patients with advanced cancer and their caregiversCMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2016
- Education Intervention “Caregivers Like Me” for Latino Family Caregivers Improved Attitudes Toward Professional Assistance at End-of-life CareAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 2015
- Knowledge of and attitudes towards palliative care and hospice services among patients with advanced chronic kidney diseaseBMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2014
- Perceptions About Hospice From a Community-Based Pilot StudyAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 2011
- Racial Differences in Self-Reported Exposure to Information about Hospice CareJournal of Palliative Medicine, 2009
- How do surrogate decision makers describe hospice? Does it matter?American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 2006
- Making Difficult Decisions About Hospice Enrollment: What Do Patients and Families Want to Know?Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2005
- Does Receipt of Hospice Care in Nursing Homes Improve the Management of Pain at the End of Life?Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2002
- Assessing the effectiveness of a hospital palliative care teamPalliative Medicine, 1995