Frequency and perceived competence in providing palliative care to terminally ill patients: a survey of primary care physicians

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 364 - 372
• Main Authors: Farber, Neil J., Urban, Susan Y., Collier, Virginia U., Metzger, Michael, Weiner, Joan, Boyer, E. Gil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Data Collection; Humans; Medical sciences; Palliative care; Palliative Care - statistics & numerical data; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; physician performance; Physician-Patient Relations; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Professional Competence - statistics & numerical data; Quality Assurance, Health Care - methods; Terminal Care - statistics & numerical data; Terminally Ill - statistics & numerical data; United States - epidemiology; United States; Palliative care; physician performance; Human; Physician
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2004.01.013

We surveyed primary care physicians about their involvement and perceived skills in palliative care. A survey instrument asked how frequently internal medicine and family practice physicians performed 10 palliative care items. Subjects rated their skills in each area. A majority of physicians always or frequently performed all 10 palliative care items, but fewer than 50% of respondents adequately attended to the spiritual needs and economic problems of patients. Interest in palliative care was associated with an increased frequency in performing palliative care items ( P = 0.036), while training in palliative care was associated with better perceived performance ( P = 0.05). Only 36% of respondents had received training in palliative care. Internists and family practitioners provide palliative care to patients, but feel their skills are lacking in certain areas. Training may improve care to patients at the end of life.