Premium
A multicountry assessment in Eurasia: Alignment of physician perspectives on palliative care integration in pediatric oncology with World Health Organization guidelines
Author(s) -
Ehrlich Bella S.,
Movsisyan Narine,
Batmunkh Tsetsegsaikhan,
Kumirova Ella,
Borisevich Marina V.,
Kirgizov Kirill,
Graetz Dylan E.,
McNeil Michael J.,
Yakimkova Taisiya,
Vinitsky Anna,
Ferrara Gia,
Li Chen,
Lu Zhaohua,
Kaye Erica C.,
Baker Justin N.,
Agulnik Asya
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.33001
Subject(s) - palliative care , medicine , family medicine , psychological intervention , nursing , health care , curative care , feeling , ambulatory care , psychology , social psychology , economics , economic growth
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for early integration of palliative care for all children with life‐threatening illness. Provider awareness and misperceptions, however, can impede this imperative. In the Eurasian region, little is known about physician knowledge and perspectives on palliative care. Methods The Assessing Doctors' Attitudes on Palliative Treatment survey was developed as an evidence‐based and culturally relevant assessment of physician perceptions on palliative care integration into childhood cancer care in Eurasia. Iteratively tested by American and Eurasian palliative care experts, the survey was culturally adapted, translated, and piloted in English, Russian, and Mongolian. The survey was distributed to physicians caring for children with cancer. Fifteen statements were scored in accordance with WHO guidelines to evaluate provider knowledge. The statistical analysis was complemented by a qualitative analysis of open‐ended responses. Results This study received 424 responses from 11 countries in Eurasia. The mean alignment between provider perspectives and WHO recommendations was 70% (range, 7%‐100%). Significant independent predictors of higher alignment included country, prior palliative care education, and greater experience with patient death. Respondents primarily described palliative care as end‐of‐life care and symptom management. Two‐thirds of respondents (67%) reported not feeling confident about delivering at least 1 component of palliative care. Conclusions This is the first study assessing physician perspectives and knowledge of palliative care in Eurasia and reveals wide variability in alignment with WHO guidelines and limited confidence in providing palliative care. Study findings will inform targeted educational interventions, which must be tailored to the local political, economic, and cultural context.