A total of 250 primary care givers were interviewed. More than 60% of them were 40 years of age or less and the majority were males. More than 85% of them were at least graduates. More than 50% of the carers were first degree relatives, like spouse, or a child. About forty five percent (95% C. I.: 39.03%, 51.37%) of the study respondents had correct knowledge about palliative care. Young individuals aged <40 years, with an education level of matric, children or relations of the patient were found to have significantly more knowledge about palliative care than their counterparts caring for the patient. (Table 1)
More than half of them agreed that the person receiving palliative care should be allowed to carry out normal routine activities or to fulfill all his/her wishes. Approximately 70% of the respondents agreed with the opinion attitude/view that the person suffering from cancer should be informed about the diagnosis and disease progression. (Table 2)
Differences in the mean scores of knowledge of different aspects of palliative care by age, gender, level of education and relationship with the patient were observed. (Table 3)
Goals of PC Score (F = 13.23; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Focus of PC Score (F = 17.50; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Team Members of PC Score (F = 31.08; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Setting of PC Score (F = 18.15; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Hospice Knowledge Score (F = 4.58; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Opinion about Provider of PC Score (F = 13.65; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Opinion that Palliative Care should be Offered to Everyone Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 33.16; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001), Opinion about best setting to provide PC Score (F = 14.64; df = 3,246; p-value<0.001) and opinion about the best source of knowledge about PC Score (F = 4.89; df = 3,246; p-value = 0.003) were found significantly different by age of the respondent except opinion about the Needs of Patients Suffering from an incurable Disease Score (F = 0.233; df = 3,246; p-value = 0.873).
Focus of PC Score (F = 17.02; df = 1,248; p-value<0.001), Setting of PC Score (F = 7.002; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.009), Hospice Knowledge Score (F = 5.12; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.025), Opinion about Provider of PC Score (F = 53.94; df = 1,248; p-value<0.001), Opinion about the Needs of Patients Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 28.02; df = 1,248; p-value<0.001), Opinion Patient best setting to provide PC Score (F = 3.93; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.049) and Opinion about the best source of providing knowledge about PC Score (F = 11.09; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.001) were found significantly different by gender of the respondent except Goals of PC Score (F = 1.177; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.279), Team Members of PC Score (F = 3.55; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.061) and Opinion that Palliative Care should be Offered to Everyone Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 1.69; df = 1,248; p-value = 0.195).
Goals of PC Score (F = 8.80; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Focus of PC Score (F = 73.13; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Team Members of PC Score (F = 8.03; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Hospice Knowledge Score (F = 13.42; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Opinion about Provider of PC Score (F = 22.43; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Opinion about the Needs of Patients Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 33.24; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Opinion that Palliative Care should be Offered to Everyone Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 18.25; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Opinion of Patient best setting to provide PC Score (F = 11.47; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001) and Opinion about the best source of providing knowledge about PC Score (F = 4.13; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.017) were found significantly different by level of education except Setting of PC Score (F = 2.01; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.136).
Goals of PC Score (F = 7.25; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.001), Focus of PC Score (F = 22.53; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Setting of PC Score (F = 17.18; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Hospice Knowledge Score (F = 20.15; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Opinion about Provider of PC Score (F = 11.03; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001) and Opinion Patient best setting to provide PC Score (F = 16.87; df = 2,247; p-value<0.001), Opinion about the best source of providing knowledge about PC Score (F = 3.21; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.042) were found significantly different for relationship with patient except Team Members of PC Score (F = 0.25; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.776), Opinion about the Needs of Patients Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 3.01; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.051) and Opinion that Palliative Care should be Offered to Everyone Suffering from an Incurable Disease Score (F = 1.58; df = 2,247; p-value = 0.207). (Table 3)