Community Attitudes Towards Palliative Care – Summary Report — August 2006

3.4 Importance

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3.4.1 Community

Almost half (46%) of Australians have had some contact with palliative care services. These Australians recognised the importance of palliative care, and praised palliative care staff and services. Almost nine in ten Australian who had had contact with palliative care felt positive about palliative care as a result of their experiences.

“They are amazing, looking after children with a terminal illness, couldn’t get any better”

“They are quality people. They are there because they want to be, and they do their job really well.”

“The palliative care nurses … I don’t know what they get paid, but it isn’t enough”

Figure 13: Attitude towards palliative care as a result of experience

Q15. How do you feel about palliative care as a result of that experience?

Base: Had contact with palliative care (n = 549)

Results

Total positive 84%
V. positive 40%
Positive 44%
Neutral 6%
Negative 8%
V. negative 6%

The importance of palliative care was recognised by both those who had contact with palliative care services, and those who had not.

The importance of palliative care was also recognised by those who had not had contact with palliative care services. The great majority of Australian, regardless of palliative care services agreed that: with an ageing population, the need for palliative care is going to increase (94%); it is a doctor’s obligation to inform patients with a life threatening illness about palliative care (93%); and palliative care provides support and assistance to the patient, family and carer (89%). Top of page

3.4.2 Providers

In line with the community’s sentiments regarding the importance of palliative care, providers suggested that Australians having contact with palliative care services quickly came to understand the importance of the support that palliative care can provide.

"In the end, it becomes a matter of acceptance, and using the services."

"In general, patients and their families don’t understand what palliative care is and they are often surprised by what we can do for them."

Providers also suggested that this importance is not as well recognised by those who have not had contact with palliative care services.

"People who have not experience it themselves, that’s where it is difficult."

"People just think palliative is just death."

3.4.3 Clients

Clients indicated that palliative care services are important, and that the care they received met their needs in the dying and bereavement process.

Clients reported that in terms of patient care:

• Their overall needs were met;
• Their medical needs were met;
• Services provided comfort and dignity to patient; and
• Their emotional needs were met.

Clients were less likely to indicate that patients' social, cultural; and spiritual needs were met.

In terms of meeting families'/carers' needs, clients indicated that palliative care services excelled at:

• Providing information and support;
• Meeting their overall needs;
• Meeting their emotional needs; and
• Meeting their physical needs.

Clients were also less inclined to agree that palliative care met needs such as social needs, cultural
needs and spiritual needs for families and carers. Top of page

Figure 14: Quality of patient services

Q12. Below are some statements about the quality of the services and support that were used by the person for whom you were caring. Please rate each statement from excellent to poor by ticking the boxes below.

Base: All clients (n = 52)

Results

Overall needs 98%
Medical needs 94%
Comfort and dignity 94%
Emotional needs 85%
Social needs 71%
Cultural needs 56%
Spritual needs 54%

Figure 15: Quality of carer services

Q13. Below are some statements about the quality of the services and support that you and your family used when caring for that person. Please rate each statement from excellent to poor by ticking the boxes below.

Base: All clients (n = 52)

Results

Provided information 88%
Overall needs 87%
Emotional needs 83%
Physical needs 75%
Social needs 69%
Cultural needs 54%
Spiritural needs 54%

Almost all palliative care clients indicated that palliative care services met their needs overall. However, some indicated that their social and cultural needs could have been better addressed. Top of page

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