A descriptive study on gaps and potential barriers palliative care service utilization among internist in FEU-NRMF medical center / [Principal investigator]: Ines, Maria Lourdes J.

Includes bibliographical refernces.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: The current increase in improved medical care has led to an aging population with rise of non-communicable diseases and the need for palliative care has been increasing as well. However, it is poorly accessible and some patient and their families, an unknown field of medicine. Palliative referrals are most often made too late and thus palliative services are underutilized hence the need to improve palliative education and training.
General Objective: To determine the gaps and barriers of palliative care services among internists through the use of End-Of-Life Professional Caregiver Survey (EPCS) questionnaire
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional research study. The physicians were approached individually for consent and questionnaires were given for them to answer. A validated survey was used unaltered from End- of life Professional Caregiver Survey. The survey questionnaire included the participant's demographic data and were disseminated and
answered.
Results: Most respondents were in the 41 to 60 years old (35; 64.8%), females (28; 51.9%), and from Section of Cardiology (10; 18.5%), with 0-15 years of experience (33; 61.1%). The subscale Patient and Family Centered Communications had a mean score of 39.03±8.56, Cultural and Ethical Values had a mean score of 23.0±6.90, and Effective Care Delivery had a mean score of 19.01l6.98. The total EPCS mean score was 81.04122.44.
Conclusions: There are several perceived gaps and barriers that were noted in the actual research study. In terms of patients and family centered communications, problems such as addressing patient symptoms and fears of patients and family members of getting addicted to pain medications are some of the concerns noted. in terms of cultural and ethical values, gaps and barriers were uneasiness in providing counseling for families and staff and the little knowledge about cultural factors influencing end of life care. Gaps and barriers identified in the area of effective care delivery were the non-provision of resources to support
staff who were assigned in caring patients who were dying and the lack of confidence to address requests for assisted suicide.

Department of Medicine Research - Department of Medicine