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Palliative care practices and their relationship to training: A cross-sectional study of community-oriented physicians

Kuniko Kodama, Satoshi Kanke, Ryuki Kassai

Author information

  • Kuniko Kodama

    Major in Community and Family Medicine, Fukushima Medical University Graduate School of Medicine
    Department of Nursing Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School of Human Health Sciences

  • Satoshi Kanke

    Department of Community and Family Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
    Fukushima Centre for General Physicians, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine

  • Ryuki Kassai

    Department of Community and Family Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
    World Organization of Family Doctors

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the training methods family physicians (FPs) use to enhance their professional development in palliative care. We also determined the relationship between these methods and palliative care practice.


Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 557 FPs. Palliative care practices were measured using the palliative care self-reported practices scale (PCPS;range 1-5), and associations among the eight indicators of FP palliative care training were considered. Quantile regression analysis was used for the analysis.


Results: Valid responses were received from 307 FPs:99.4% of the FPs provided palliative care and home visits, and 92.8% received palliative care training. The PCPS score was higher in participants who reported having received palliative care training (adjusted coefficient, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.12-0.68]; P=0.004). The palliative care training method was found to be significantly associated with the PCPS score “Self-study through literature” (adjusted coefficient 0.18 [95% CI, 0.01-0.34]; P=0.03) and “Reflection on the practices” (adjusted coefficient 0.24 [95% CI, 0.08-0.4]; P=0.004).


Conclusions: FPs actively provided palliative care in their communities and used various palliative care training methods for professional development. “Reflection on the practices” and “Self-study through literature” were important elements of community-based palliative care practice.

The cintent of reseach paper

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