Assessing the Knowledge and Practice of Palliative Care from Doctors Perspective: The Case Of The Ridge Hospital Accra

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Date

2018-07

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University of Ghana

Abstract

There have been concerns on how medical doctors‟ knowledge on Palliative Care impacts on Palliative Care practice, in the delivery of quality health care in Ghana. Despite the concern above, there is no empirical study to date that attempts to investigate this problem in Ghana. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of medical doctors at the Ridge Hospital on Palliative Care. The study adopted the quantitative approach and used non-probability sampling technique to engage 165 respondents all of whom, were medical doctors from various departments at the hospital. Out of this number, 145 questionnaires were retrieved from the survey. The study used Chi-Square statistical tool to establish that, there is a significant relationship between, doctors‟ knowledge on Palliative Care and the practice of Palliative Care in the delivery of quality healthcare. The study found that there were several pathways through which doctors acquired on Palliative Care. For example, majority of the doctors at the hospital had knowledge in Palliative Care which they acquired from medical school. It was further revealed that, most doctors at the Ridge hospital handle terminally ill patients at least once in a week. This made the knowledge acquired on Palliative Care very essential in their line of duty. Additionally, almost all the doctors surveyed at the hospital do practice pain management which is a very critical component in Palliative Care practice. Also findings showed that doctors at the Ridge hospital were motivated by the knowledge they have on Palliative Care practice and readily assisted patients that required that attention. Based on findings, the study recommended that stakeholders in the healthcare sector should ensure all medical schools at least, incorporate Palliative Care in their curriculum, since it was established that, doctors are motivated by knowledge in Palliative Care in caring for chronically ill patients in their line of duty.

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Palliative Care, Ridge Hospital

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