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Batzler YN, Schallenburger M, Schwartz J, Marazia C, Neukirchen M. The General Public and Young Adults' Knowledge and Perception of Palliative Care: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:957. [PMID: 38786369 PMCID: PMC11121430 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12100957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: As a result of demographic change, chronic and oncological diseases are gaining importance in the context of public health. Palliative care plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of life of those affected. International guidelines demand access to palliative care not only for the elderly but also for younger people who face severe illnesses. It can be assumed that palliative care will become increasingly important for them. In order to develop public health strategies which are able to promote palliative care, it is important to assess the knowledge of, and attitude towards, palliative care as found among members of the general public and its specific target groups. In particular, little is known about young adults' knowledge and perceptions of palliative care. Objectives and design: This work aimed to assess the understanding and viewpoints regarding palliative care among the general population and among young adults aged 18 to 24. We therefore conducted a systematic review, which, for this target population, could be seen as a novel approach. Methods: Exclusion and inclusion criteria were developed using the PICOS process. Literature was researched within MEDLINE (via PubMed), Google Scholar and Web of Science. A search string was developed and refined for all three databases. Grey literature was included. Duplicates were excluded using Mendeley. The literature was independently screened by two researchers. Narrative synthesis was used to answer the main research question. Results: For the general public, palliative care is still associated with death and dying and comforting sick people towards the end of their lives. Multiple social determinants are linked to better knowledge of palliative care: higher education, higher income, female gender, having relatives that received palliative care, and permanent employment. The population's knowledge of palliative care structures increases, the longer such structures have been established within a country. Young adults are familiar with the term palliative care, yet their understanding lacks nuance. They associate palliative care with death and dying and perceive palliative care to be a medical discipline primarily for the elderly. Nevertheless, young adults demand participation within the planning of interventions to destigmatize palliative care. Conclusions: The general public still lacks a detailed understanding of palliative care. Palliative care faces stigma at multiple levels, which creates barriers for those who set out to implement it. However, addressing young adults as a crucial peer group can help break down barriers and promote access to palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann-Nicolas Batzler
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (Y.-N.B.); (J.S.); (M.N.)
| | - Manuela Schallenburger
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (Y.-N.B.); (J.S.); (M.N.)
| | - Jacqueline Schwartz
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (Y.-N.B.); (J.S.); (M.N.)
| | - Chantal Marazia
- Department of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Martin Neukirchen
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (Y.-N.B.); (J.S.); (M.N.)
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Diviani N, Bennardi M, Gamondi C, Saletti P, Stüssi G, Delbue-Luisoni M, Rubinelli S. Awareness, attitudes, and beliefs about palliative care: Results from a representative survey of the Italian-speaking Swiss population. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294807. [PMID: 38015954 PMCID: PMC10684106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand the knowledge and awareness of palliative care in the Italian-speaking Swiss general population, describing main misconceptions or false beliefs and their relationship with attitudes towards palliative care. METHODS Cross-sectional representative population survey (N = 313). RESULTS We observed a high awareness of «palliative care,» although it is mainly associated with pain management and the very last days of life. While false beliefs are relatively rare, there is low awareness of goals, targets, and services offered by palliative care. Overall the Italian-speaking Swiss population has a good predisposition towards palliative care, but negative attitudes are more common among those who lack knowledge. More than one-third of respondents are interested in receiving more information about palliative care, especially from their healthcare providers or through dedicated information points. CONCLUSION AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Health communication interventions to promote palliative care are needed because there is still significant unclarity about the goals of palliative care, which negatively affects its acceptance. This study instructs on how to intervene specifically in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, including what to communicate and how. Further, our findings can inspire similar studies in other Swiss regions or countries that can optimize recognition, knowledge, and understanding and contribute to filling gaps in populations' health service demand and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Diviani
- Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Marco Bennardi
- Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Gamondi
- Palliative and Supportive Care Clinic, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Georg Stüssi
- Clinic of Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Sara Rubinelli
- Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Sansom-Daly UM, Zhang M, Evans HE, McLoone J, Wiener L, Cohn RJ, Anazodo A, Patterson P, Wakefield CE. Adapting the Voicing My CHOiCES Advance Care Planning Communication Guide for Australian Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: Appropriateness, Acceptability, and Considerations for Clinical Practice. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2129. [PMID: 37046790 PMCID: PMC10093261 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with life-threatening illnesses need support to discuss and voice their end-of-life choices. Voicing My CHOiCES (VMC) is a research-informed American advanced care planning guide designed to help facilitate these difficult discussions. This multi-perspective study aimed to evaluate its appropriateness, acceptability, and clinical considerations for Australian AYAs with cancer. Procedure: Forty-three participants including AYAs who were either undergoing or recently completed cancer treatment, their parents, and multidisciplinary health professionals assessed the acceptability of each VMC section quantitatively (appropriateness-yes/no, helpfulness and whether content caused stress-1 = not at all, to 5 = very) and qualitatively (sources of stress). AYAs also assessed the benefit and burden of completing several sections of the document, to inform clinical considerations. We conducted a mixed-methods analysis to obtain descriptive statistics and to identify prominent themes. Results: In terms of acceptability, almost all participants (96%) rated VMC as appropriate overall. Perceived helpfulness to their situation (to themselves/their child/their patients), to others, and stressfulness were rated, on average, as 4.1, 4.0, and 2.7/5, respectively. Stress was attributed to individual and personal factors, as well as interpersonal worries. All sections were considered more beneficial than burdensome, except for the Spiritual Thoughts section (Section 6). Conclusions: While VMC is an acceptable advance care planning guide for AYAs with cancer, changes to the guide were suggested for the Australian context. Health professionals implementing VMC will need to address and mitigate anticipated sources of stress identified here. Future research evaluating the impact of a new culturally adapted Australian VMC guide is an important next step. Finally, the clinical implications of the present study are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula M. Sansom-Daly
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
- Sydney Youth Cancer Service, Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Megan Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Holly E. Evans
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Jordana McLoone
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Lori Wiener
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard J. Cohn
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Antoinette Anazodo
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Pandora Patterson
- Canteen Australia, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Claire E. Wakefield
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
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Graham-Wisener L, Toner P, Leonard R, Groarke JM. Psychometric validation of the death literacy index and benchmarking of death literacy level in a representative uk population sample. BMC Palliat Care 2022; 21:145. [PMID: 35962383 PMCID: PMC9374575 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01032-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Death literacy includes the knowledge and skills that people need to gain access to, understand, and make informed choices about end of life and death care options. The Death Literacy Index (DLI) can be used to determine levels of death literacy across multiple contexts, including at a community/national level, and to evaluate the outcome of public health interventions. As the first measure of death literacy, the DLI has potential to significantly advance public health approaches to palliative care. The current study aimed to provide the first assessment of the psychometric properties of the DLI in the UK, alongside population-level benchmarks. Methods A large nationally representative sample of 399 participants, stratified by age, gender and ethnicity, were prospectively recruited via an online panel. The factor structure of the 29-item DLI was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency of subscales was assessed alongside interpretability. Hypothesised associations with theoretically related/unrelated constructs were examined to assess convergent and discriminant validity. Descriptive statistics were used to provide scaled mean scores on the DLI. Results Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original higher-order 8 factor structure, with the best fitting model including one substituted item developed specifically for UK respondents. The subscales reported high internal consistency. Good convergent and discriminant validity was evidenced in relation to objective knowledge of the death system, death competency, actions relating to death and dying in the community and loneliness. Good known-groups validity was achieved with respondents with professional/lived experience of end-of-life care reporting higher levels of death literacy. There was little socio-demographic variability in DLI scores. Scaled population-level mean scores were near the mid-point of DLI subscale/total, with comparatively high levels of experiential knowledge and the ability to talk about death and dying. Conclusions Psychometric evaluations suggest the DLI is a reliable and valid measure of death literacy for use in the UK, with population level benchmarks suggesting the UK population could strengthen capacity in factual knowledge and accessing help. International validation of the DLI represents a significant advancement in outcome measurement for public health approaches to palliative care. Pre-registration https://osf.io/fwxkh/
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Graham-Wisener
- Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK.
| | - Paul Toner
- Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Rosemary Leonard
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Penrith Kingswood Campus, Western Sydney University Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Jenny M Groarke
- Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK.,School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
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