A Population-Based Survey on Perceptions of Opioid Treatment and Palliative Care Units: OPTIM Study. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Igarashi, Ayumi; Miyashita, Mitsunori; Morita, Tatsuya; Akizuki, Nobuya; Akiyama, Miki; Shirahige, Yutaka; Eguchi, Kenji
• Is Part Of: American journal of hospice & palliative care. Volume 31:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: end-of-life care -- palliative care unit -- opioid treatments -- perceptions -- general public -- sense of security; Hospice care -- Periodicals; Palliative treatment -- Periodicals; 362.175
• DOI: 10.1177/1049909113481260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-9091

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the general public's perceptions of opioids and palliative care units (PCUs) and explore factors related to such perceptions. A cross-sectional, anonymous questionnaire was administered to 8000 people. Although a majority agreed with positive perceptions of opioids and PCUs, some also agreed with negative perceptions, such as opioids are addictive and shorten life (28% and 27%, respectively). Multiregression analyses revealed that respondents with a better knowledge of PCUs had higher positive perceptions than those without such knowledge ( P <.001). The higher positive perceptions were associated with a higher sense of security regarding regional cancer care ( P < .001). Providing the general public with adequate knowledge about palliative care may improve perceptions of palliative care and the sense of security.