Table 5.
Physicians’ attitudes about and experiences with hospice care by type of practice
| RATING OF ATTITUDE OR EXPERIENCE | TYPE OF PRACTICE, N (%) | KRUSKAL-WALL IS TEST | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
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| FAMILY MEDICINE, GENERAL | FAMILY MEDICINE WITH SPECIAL INTEREST | SUBSPECIALTY WITHIN FAMILY MEDICINE | TOTAL | P VALUE | ||
| Comfortable discussing hospice and palliative care with patients | 7.039 | .030 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 18 (32) | 18 (43) | 5 (100) | 41 (40) | ||
| • Agree | 26 (46) | 15 (36) | 0 (0) | 41 (40) | ||
| • Neutral | 7 (12) | 5 (12) | 0 (0) | 12 (12) | ||
| • Disagree | 5 (9) | 3 (7) | 0 (0) | 8 (8) | ||
| • Strongly disagree | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | ||
| • Total | 56 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 103 (100) | ||
| Deferred discussing hospice referral in the past owing to discomfort | 7.547 | .023 | ||||
| • Agree | 2 (4) | 4 (10) | 0 (0) | 6 (6) | ||
| • Neutral | 9 (16) | 6 (14) | 0 (0) | 15 (15) | ||
| • Disagree | 24 (44) | 19 (45) | 0 (0) | 43 (42) | ||
| • Strongly disagree | 20 (36) | 13 (31) | 5 (100) | 38 (37) | ||
| • Total | 55 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 102 (100) | ||
| Made a referral to a hospice in the past | 0.410 | .815 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 34 (61) | 25 (60) | 4 (80) | 63 (61) | ||
| • Agree | 21 (38) | 14 (33) | 0 (0) | 35 (34) | ||
| • Neutral | 1 (2) | 3 (7) | 1 (20) | 5 (5) | ||
| • Total | 56 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 103 (100) | ||
| Palliative care enhances quality of life for patients and families | 0.488 | .783 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 49 (89) | 36 (86) | 4 (80) | 89 (87) | ||
| • Agree | 6 (11) | 6 (14) | 1 (20) | 13 (13) | ||
| • Total | 55 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 102 (100) | ||
| Feels well-informed to discuss hospice referrals with patients | 8.188 | .017 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 9 (16) | 10 (24) | 4 (80) | 23 (22) | ||
| • Agree | 20 (36) | 15 (36) | 1 (20) | 36 (35) | ||
| • Neutral | 12 (21) | 7 (17) | 0 (0) | 19 (18) | ||
| • Disagree | 14 (25) | 10 (24) | 0 (0) | 24 (23) | ||
| • Strongly disagree | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | ||
| • Total | 56 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 103 (100) | ||
| Familiar with patient eligibility for hospice care in Calgary Zone | 10.718 | .006 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 3 (5) | 9 (21) | 3 (60) | 15 (15) | ||
| • Agree | 13 (23) | 13 (31) | 1 (20) | 27 (26) | ||
| • Neutral | 15 (27) | 9 (21) | 0 (0) | 24 (23) | ||
| • Disagree | 24 (43) | 10 (24) | 1 (20) | 35 (34) | ||
| • Strongly disagree | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 2 (2) | ||
| • Total | 56 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 103 (100) | ||
| Familiar with services provided by the palliative home care program of Alberta Health Services | 1.335 | .513 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 12 (22) | 8 (19) | 1 (20) | 21 (21) | ||
| • Agree | 21 (38) | 20 (48) | 4 (20) | 45 (44) | ||
| • Neutral | 15 (27) | 6 (14) | 0 (0) | 21 (21) | ||
| • Disagree | 7 (13) | 7 (17) | 0 (0) | 14 (14) | ||
| • Strongly disagree | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | ||
| • Total | 55 (100) | 42 (100) | 5 (100) | 102 (100) | ||
| Familiar with the referral process and contact personnel | 1.799 | .407 | ||||
| • Strongly agree | 4 (7) | 8 (20) | 1 (20) | 13 (13) | ||
| • Agree | 15 (27) | 14 (34) | 1 (20) | 30 (29) | ||
| • Neutral | 16 (29) | 5 (12) | 0 (0) | 21 (21) | ||
| • Disagree | 20 (36) | 11 (27) | 3 (60) | 34 (33) | ||
| • Strongly disagree | 1 (2) | 3 (7) | 0 (0) | 4 (4) | ||
| • Total | 56 (100) | 41 (100) | 5 (100) | 102 (100) | ||