Palliative care in the emergency department: An observational study of doctors in KwaZulu-Natal
South African Family Practice
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Palliative care in the emergency department: An observational study of doctors in KwaZulu-Natal | |
| Creator | Sriranganathan, Nagaleswari Morris, David Campbell, Laura Hift, Richard | |
| Description | Background: The World Health Organization advocates the early, appropriate provision of palliative care (PC) to patients throughout the life course. Patient consultations to the emergency department (ED) have been recognised as opportunities to initiate or optimise their PC needs. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards PC among doctors at emergency physician staffed EDs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2021 and February 2022 for doctors employed out at emergency physician staffed EDs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using the validated Palliative Care Attitude and Knowledge questionnaire. The variables assessed were the self-rated and basic knowledge and attitudes towards core domains of PC. Ordinal data were compared using the t-test or ANOVA as appropriate, using MedCalc® Statistical Software version 22.009.Results: Of the 39 participants, the scores for the knowledge questions showed that 15.3% participants had good knowledge, 53.8% had fair knowledge and 30.7% had poor knowledge. Participants had either favourable (58.8%) or an uncertain (41.0%) attitude towards PC. No correlation was seen between the knowledge and attitudes scores (Spearman’s rho = 0.13, 95% CI –0.19 to 0.43, p = 0.43).Conclusion: There appears to be a deficit in knowledge of PC among doctors in the ED and a need for in-service training in PC for emergency care physicians.Contribution: This study provides new knowledge around PC practices at EDs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2024-04-19 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5860 | |
| Source | South African Family Practice; Vol 66, No 1 (2024): Part 2; 6 pages 2078-6204 2078-6190 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5860/8657
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5860/8658
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5860/8659
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5860/8661
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5860/8662
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5860/8660
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