Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Palliative care (PC) in rural China remains underdeveloped, with limited specialized services and significant challenges for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine the difficulties in providing PC and their factors from the perspective of healthcare professionals i...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01674-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861519161491456 |
|---|---|
| author | Junwei Niu Min Feng Changhui Song Hui Xie |
| author_facet | Junwei Niu Min Feng Changhui Song Hui Xie |
| author_sort | Junwei Niu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Palliative care (PC) in rural China remains underdeveloped, with limited specialized services and significant challenges for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine the difficulties in providing PC and their factors from the perspective of healthcare professionals in rural Henan province, China, where specific PC services are currently unavailable. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2024, using a convenience sample of 255 healthcare professionals from four secondary/tertiary hospitals participated. Data were collected on participants’ demographic characteristics, information on recently deceased cancer patients they had cared for, and PC-related information. PC knowledge and PC difficulties were assessed using the Palliative Care Knowledge Questionnaire-Chinese version (PCKQ-PCN) and the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale (PCDS). Linear regression analysis identified factors associated with PC difficulties. Results Among the 255 participants (Mean[age]: 34.82 ± 7.04), 71.8% were females, 57.3% were physicians, and the average work experience was 10.20 years. Regarding PC experience, 48.2% had participated in 1–2 training sessions annually over the past two years, and 32.2% reported a poor understanding of PC. The total PCKQ-PCN mean score was 13.28 ± 2.62, with 25.2% of participants classified as having poor knowledge. The PCDS mean score was 42.58 ± 13.59. Linear regression analysis showed that participating in at least one PC training session every six months (β = -10.66; p = 0.032), having experience caring for seriously ill people at home (β = -6.31; p = 0.024), greater knowledge of symptom management (β = -3.72; p = 0.012), and higher levels of basic knowledge (β = -5.12; p = 0.007) were negatively associated with PC difficulties. Conversely, limited understanding of PC (β = 12.95; p = 0.021), greater knowledge of spiritual care and death education (β = 4.95; p = 0.034), and having new rural cooperative medical insurance (β = 6.36; p = 0.023; β = 3.21; p = 0.042) were positively associated with PC difficulties. Conclusions This study highlights critical gaps in rural China’s PC services, including inadequate training, limited focus on spiritual needs and death education, and disparities in insurance coverage. Targeted training programs in healthcare professionals and policy reforms are urgently needed to improve PC quality and accessibility in rural areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fc56f8f0f5d349a99da24def90856f59 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-fc56f8f0f5d349a99da24def90856f592025-02-09T12:59:41ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2025-02-0124111110.1186/s12904-025-01674-wSelf-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional studyJunwei Niu0Min Feng1Changhui Song2Hui Xie3School of Medical Humanities, Xinxiang Medical UniversityCollege of Social Affairs, Henan Normal UniversityResearch Center On Social Work and Social Governance, Henan Normal UniversityJoseph J. Zilber College of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeAbstract Background Palliative care (PC) in rural China remains underdeveloped, with limited specialized services and significant challenges for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine the difficulties in providing PC and their factors from the perspective of healthcare professionals in rural Henan province, China, where specific PC services are currently unavailable. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2024, using a convenience sample of 255 healthcare professionals from four secondary/tertiary hospitals participated. Data were collected on participants’ demographic characteristics, information on recently deceased cancer patients they had cared for, and PC-related information. PC knowledge and PC difficulties were assessed using the Palliative Care Knowledge Questionnaire-Chinese version (PCKQ-PCN) and the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale (PCDS). Linear regression analysis identified factors associated with PC difficulties. Results Among the 255 participants (Mean[age]: 34.82 ± 7.04), 71.8% were females, 57.3% were physicians, and the average work experience was 10.20 years. Regarding PC experience, 48.2% had participated in 1–2 training sessions annually over the past two years, and 32.2% reported a poor understanding of PC. The total PCKQ-PCN mean score was 13.28 ± 2.62, with 25.2% of participants classified as having poor knowledge. The PCDS mean score was 42.58 ± 13.59. Linear regression analysis showed that participating in at least one PC training session every six months (β = -10.66; p = 0.032), having experience caring for seriously ill people at home (β = -6.31; p = 0.024), greater knowledge of symptom management (β = -3.72; p = 0.012), and higher levels of basic knowledge (β = -5.12; p = 0.007) were negatively associated with PC difficulties. Conversely, limited understanding of PC (β = 12.95; p = 0.021), greater knowledge of spiritual care and death education (β = 4.95; p = 0.034), and having new rural cooperative medical insurance (β = 6.36; p = 0.023; β = 3.21; p = 0.042) were positively associated with PC difficulties. Conclusions This study highlights critical gaps in rural China’s PC services, including inadequate training, limited focus on spiritual needs and death education, and disparities in insurance coverage. Targeted training programs in healthcare professionals and policy reforms are urgently needed to improve PC quality and accessibility in rural areas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01674-wPalliative care difficultiesPalliative care knowledgeSpiritual careHealthcare professionalsRural China |
| spellingShingle | Junwei Niu Min Feng Changhui Song Hui Xie Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study BMC Palliative Care Palliative care difficulties Palliative care knowledge Spiritual care Healthcare professionals Rural China |
| title | Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | self reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural china a cross sectional study |
| topic | Palliative care difficulties Palliative care knowledge Spiritual care Healthcare professionals Rural China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01674-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT junweiniu selfreportedknowledgeanddifficultiestowardspalliativecareamonghealthcareprofessionalsinruralchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT minfeng selfreportedknowledgeanddifficultiestowardspalliativecareamonghealthcareprofessionalsinruralchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT changhuisong selfreportedknowledgeanddifficultiestowardspalliativecareamonghealthcareprofessionalsinruralchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT huixie selfreportedknowledgeanddifficultiestowardspalliativecareamonghealthcareprofessionalsinruralchinaacrosssectionalstudy |