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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 1/2016

01-01-2016 | Original Article

The effects of community-wide dissemination of information on perceptions of palliative care, knowledge about opioids, and sense of security among cancer patients, their families, and the general public

Authors: Miki Akiyama, Kei Hirai, Toru Takebayashi, Tatsuya Morita, Mitsunori Miyashita, Ayano Takeuchi, Akemi Yamagishi, Hiroya Kinoshita, Yutaka Shirahige, Kenji Eguchi

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Prejudices against palliative care are a potential barrier to quality end-of-life care. There have been few large-scale community-wide interventions to distribute appropriate information about palliative care, and no studies have investigated their impact on cancer patients, their families, and the general public. Thus, we conducted a 3-year community intervention and evaluated the effects of distributing such information at the community level, and explored associations among levels of exposure, perceptions, knowledge, and the sense of security achieved.

Methods

Over a period of 3 years, we provided flyers, booklets, posters, and public lectures about palliative care in four regions of Japan, and carried out pre- and post-intervention surveys with repeated cross-sectional samplings of cancer patients (pre 859, post 857), bereaved family members (1110, 1137), and the general public (3984, 1435). The levels of exposure to the provided information were measured by a multiple-choice questionnaire after intervention. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for perceptions of palliative care, knowledge about opioids, and sense of security among the exposure groups.

Results

Overall perceptions of palliative care, opioids, and receiving care at home improved significantly among the general public and families, but not among the patients at the community level. However, multiple regression revealed that patients of extensive exposure category had significantly more positive perceptions of palliative care to those of non-exposure category (p = 0.02). The sense of security regarding cancer care of all patients, family members, and the general public improved. Among others, the respondents who reported extensive exposure in the general public and family members scored significantly higher sense of security.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that providing palliative care information via small media and lectures in the community is effective in improving perceptions of palliative care and knowledge about opioids among the community dwellers, especially for caregivers of the patients. The acquisition of adequate knowledge about palliative care from various information sources may improve people’s sense of security regarding cancer.
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Metadata
Title
The effects of community-wide dissemination of information on perceptions of palliative care, knowledge about opioids, and sense of security among cancer patients, their families, and the general public
Authors
Miki Akiyama
Kei Hirai
Toru Takebayashi
Tatsuya Morita
Mitsunori Miyashita
Ayano Takeuchi
Akemi Yamagishi
Hiroya Kinoshita
Yutaka Shirahige
Kenji Eguchi
Publication date
01-01-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2788-4

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