34 / 36
Page 62
Notes:
conferenceseries
.com
Volume 7, Issue 5 (Suppl)
J Palliat Care Med, an open access journal
ISSN: 2165-7386
Geriatrics 2017
September 4-5, 2017
September 4-5, 2017 | Edinburgh, Scotland
Geriatrics Gerontology & Palliative Nursing
7
th
International Conference on
PUBLICAWARENESS ANDATTITUDE TOWARDS PALLIATIVE CARE IN NIGERIA
AbdulRaheem Ibraheem Shola
a
, Amodu MO
b
, Salami SK
c
, Adegboye A
d
, Fatiregun A
a
and
Tobin-West C
e
a
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
b
University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
c
Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
d
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
e
University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
Background:
Palliative care is a global public health issue. Studies have reported public inadequate or lack of knowledge and
negative perceptions towards palliative care. Given the aging population and associated increase in the number of patients
requiring palliative care it is vital to explore the public’s understanding of this concept.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to establish the current levels of awareness and attitudes towards palliative care among
the general public in Nigeria.
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study among 6,358 individuals aged over 20 years was conducted between
April to September 2016. Information was collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of 15 items. EPI-INFO and
SPSS software statistical packages were applied for data entry and analysis. Chi-square and logistic regression were computed
to assess statistical association and the level of significance. A p-value of equal or less than 0.05 was considered statistically
significant.
Results:
A total of 564 responses were obtained (response rate 8.9%). Female gender 388 (68.9%) and previous experience
358 (63.5%) influenced awareness in a positive direction. Respondents 401 (70.1%) who worked in healthcare themselves or
who had a close relative or friend who had used a palliative care service were more aware of palliative care and the availability
of different palliative care services. Suggested strategies to enhance awareness and community involvement in palliative care
include formulation of appropriate policies and education of policy makers.
Conclusions:
Nigeria public awareness and attitude of the concept of palliative care remains insufficient for widespread effective
and appropriate palliative care to be accepted as the norm. In particular, those without previous family-related experiences lack
awareness. An increased public awareness of palliative care is needed, in order to improve knowledge of and access to services
when required.
Biography
Abdul Raheem IS, is a Nigerian medical doctor with postgraduate training in Public Health. He is a fellow of both Royal Institute of Public Health (London) and
National Postgraduate Medical College, Faculty of Public Health (Nigeria). He holds Master degrees in Public Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Public
Administration. He specializes in Disease Surveillance, Geriatrics and Epidemiology. His areas of interests are Disease surveillance, Geriatric Epidemiology,
Geriatric poly-pharmacy, Geriatric palliative care, End of life care, Care of the Elderly,Health planning and administration . He has more than sixty publications
to his credit in both local, National and International Journals. Dr Abdulraheem has served as a Consultant to WHO, UNICEF, NPI, GAVI & FMOH (Nigeria) on
Disease Surveillance, Polio Eradication Programme and National Epidemiological review of Communicable Diseases. Currently, AbdulRaheem Ibraheem Shola
a Consultant to World Health Organization on Disease Surveillance and Polio Eradication Programme as well as Associate Professor in the Department of
Epidemiology & Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
ibroraheem@yahoo.comAbdulRaheem Ibraheem Shola et al., J Palliat Care Med 2017, 7:5(Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7386-C1-011