Associations of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Palliative care Service among Healthcare Staff Working in Selected Health Facilities, Southern Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Societal aging, a concern in many countries worldwide, is increasing the demand for quality palliative care in Sierra Leone. Health education is responsible for providing health staff with high levels of knowledge and competency related to palliative care. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices around palliative care among healthcare providers working in selected health facilities in Bo City, southern Sierra Leone. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted using 536 health staff from health facilities selected randomly from 5 Private, and 15 Government health facilities, from July to August 2020. The 20-item Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing and Frommelt's Attitude Toward Care of the Dying scale were used to collect data. One-way analysis of variance and t-test were used to examine the associations between palliative care knowledge and the demographic characteristics. Results: of the total 576 health care staff selected, a response rate of 536 (93.1%) was registered. Only 30 participants (6%) answered at least 50% of the questions correctly, whereas 94% obtained scores lower than 10. The mean score of the participants was 8.92, indicating poor knowledge of palliative care principles and philosophy, management of pain and other symptoms, and psychosocial and spiritual care. There was a significant difference among health staff qualifications, and palliative care knowledge. Conclusions: Health staff had poor knowledge; their attitude towards palliative care was fair; and it was significantly affected by medical qualifications.