Health professionals’ knowledge of palliative care: Analysis of a Portuguese central hospital

Abstract

Background: Scientific evidence shows gaps in the knowledge of health professionals about palliative care, influencing the quality of care. Objective: To characterise health professionals’ knowledge about palliative care in a Portuguese central university hospital. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study, with health professionals from a central university hospital as target population. A questionnaire was applied to assess their knowledge about palliative care. Results: Of the 401 professionals in the sample, 16.96% have experience and 26.18% specific training in palliative care. On average, 80.53% of correct answers were given regarding the philosophy of palliative care. The knowledge about symptom control and family support was negatively correlated with the length of professional experience (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Most professionals demonstrate knowledge in palliative care, however it’s essential to invest in training, particularly in professionals with more length of professional practice.