Gerontology department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Scientific Research Department, National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jul 25;16(15):2656. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16152656.
This study assessed the knowledge and attitude toward palliative care for the elderly among health professionals in a tertiary geriatric hospital in Vietnam and explored their determinants. Cross-sectional data were obtained on 161 geriatric health professionals at the National Geriatric Hospital. Modified-Palliative Care Knowledge Test and Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying instruments were used to measure knowledge and attitude toward geriatric palliative care. As a result, 40.5% physicians and 74.2% nurses showed insufficient knowledge about geriatric palliative care ( < 0.05). The lowest score was for dyspnea, following by gastrointestinal and pain problems. No significant difference was found regarding the attitude between physicians and nurses ( > 0.05). Health professional category, age, and years of experience were found to be associated with knowledge about palliative care. Meanwhile, only knowledge score had correlations with total attitude score (Coef. = 0.2; 95%CI = 0.1-0.3), attitude toward patients (Coef. = 0.1; 95%CI = 0.0-0.1) and toward patients' family (Coef. = 0.1; 95%CI = 0.0-0.1). This study highlights a significant knowledge gap and preferable attitude toward palliative care for the elderly among physicians and nurses in the geriatric hospital. Intensive training about geriatric palliative care, focusing on pain, dyspnea and gastrointestinal issue management, should be performed to ensure the quality of palliative care services, especially in nurses.
本研究评估了越南一家三级老年医院的卫生专业人员对老年患者姑息治疗的知识和态度，并探讨了其决定因素。在国家老年医院，对 161 名老年保健专业人员进行了横断面数据收集。使用改良姑息治疗知识测试和弗洛梅尔临终关怀态度量表来衡量对老年姑息治疗的知识和态度。结果显示，40.5%的医生和 74.2%的护士对老年姑息治疗的知识不足（<0.05）。得分最低的是呼吸困难，其次是胃肠道和疼痛问题。医生和护士之间的态度没有显著差异（>0.05）。研究发现，卫生专业人员类别、年龄和工作经验与姑息治疗知识有关。同时，只有知识得分与总态度得分（系数=0.2；95%CI=0.1-0.3）、对患者的态度（系数=0.1；95%CI=0.0-0.1）和对患者家属的态度（系数=0.1；95%CI=0.0-0.1）相关。本研究强调了老年医院的医生和护士对老年患者姑息治疗存在显著的知识差距和偏好态度。应针对姑息治疗中的疼痛、呼吸困难和胃肠道问题管理，对姑息治疗进行强化培训，以确保姑息治疗服务的质量，特别是在护士中。
