Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of the Scope of Palliative Care and Related Factors

Yuri Takei; Sena Yamamoto; Yuki Morooka; Yoko Minamiguchi; Akiko Hatakeyama; Yukiko Tatsumi; Harue Arao

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Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of the Scope of Palliative Care and Related Factors

VernacularTitle:がん患者における緩和ケア開始時期の認識と関連要因
Author: Yuri TAKEI ¹ ; Sena YAMAMOTO ¹ ; Yuki MOROOKA ² ; Yoko MINAMIGUCHI ² ; Akiko HATAKEYAMA ³ ; Yukiko TATSUMI ¹ ; Harue ARAO ¹
Author Information

1. Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
2. Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Mukogawa Women’s University
3. Yodogawa Christian Hospital
Keywords: palliative care; cancer; consciousness investigation; early intervention
From:Palliative Care Research 2021;16(1):35-43
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to investigate Japanese cancer patients’ perceptions of the scope of palliative care and factors that affect those perceptions. Methods: An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to hospitalized patients and outpatients in designated cancer care hospitals in Japan. Data were first summarized using descriptive statistics. Then, using a χ² test followed by multiple logistic regression analysis, we compared patients who recognized palliative care as terminal care with those who viewed it as care that is relevant earlier in the disease course. Results: Of 3,622 questionnaires, 1,981 were completed (response rate: 54.7%). A total of 1,187 (59.9%) respondents perceived palliative care as care that could be implemented early in the disease course, whereas 414 (20.9%) respondents perceived palliative care as only relevant for the end-of-life stage. Respondents who had received palliative care for symptoms were significantly less likely to recognize it as terminal palliative care only than those who perceived that they were not the subject in the scope of care for symptoms. A diagnosis of advanced cancer and being under 40 years old were factors significantly related to the perception of palliative care as terminal only. Discussion and Implications: Our findings suggest that health care providers should be conscious of the possibility that palliative care practices affect patients’ perceptions of palliative care. Providing information about palliative care before occurring painful symptoms can help promote patients’ access to and understanding of it.