Table 3. Perspectives on current respiratory palliative care services by region.
| Western Canada (n = 58) | Ontario (n = 42) | Atlantic Canada (n = 23) | Overall | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patients with advanced respiratory illness receive optimal end-of-life care | |||||
| Disagree | 38 (65.5) | 22 (52.4) | 15 (65.2) | 75 (61.0) | NA |
| Neutral | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Agree | 20 (34.5) | 20 (47.6) | 8 (34.8) | 48 (39.0) | NA |
| Transition process is smooth between acute care, community care and palliative care | |||||
| Disagree | 36 (62.1) | 19 (45.2) | 9 (39.1) | 64 (52.0) | NA |
| Neutral | 7 (12.1) | 8 (19.0) | 4 (17.4) | 19 (15.4) | NA |
| Agree | 15 (25.9) | 15 (35.7) | 10 (43.5) | 40 (32.5) | NA |
| Palliative care is currently a role of RHPs | |||||
| Disagree | 22 (37.9) | 19 (45.2) | 7 (30.4) | 48 (39.0) | NA |
| Neutral | 4 (6.9) | 1 (2.4) | 2 (8.7) | 7 (5.7) | NA |
| Agree | 32 (55.2) | 22 (32.4) | 14 (60.9) | 68 (55.3) | NA |
| Patients have a negative perception of the term palliative care | |||||
| Disagree | 2 (3.4) | 3 (2.4) | 1 (4.3) | 6 (4.9) | NA |
| Agree | 56 (96.6) | 39 (92.9) | 22 (95.7) | 117 (95.1) | NA |
| Colleagues have a negative perception of the term palliative care | |||||
| Disagree | 25 (43.1) | 16 (38.1) | 10 (43.5) | 51 (41.5) | 0.86 |
| Agree | 33 (56.9) | 26 (61.9) | 13 (56.5) | 72 (58.5) | 0.86 |
| Dedicated supportive or palliative care services for patients with advanced respiratory disease | |||||
| Yes | 25 (43.1) | 20 (47.6) | 14 (60.9) | 59 (48.0) | NA |
| No | 19 (32.8) | 9 (21.4) | 7 (30.4) | 35 (28.5) | NA |
| Unsure | 14 (24.1) | 13 (44.8) | 2 (8.7) | 29 (23.6) | NA |
| Extent to which existing palliative care services meet patient needs | |||||
| No services or does not meet needs at all | 7 (12.2) | 6 (14.3) | 2 (8.7) | 15 (12.2) | NA |
| Meets needs to some extent | 15 (25.9) | 8 (19.0) | 3 (13.0) | 26 (21.1) | NA |
| Meets most or all needs | 26 (44.8) | 16 (38.1) | 15 (65.2) | 57 (46.3) | NA |
| Unsure | 10 (17.2) | 12 (28.6) | 3 (13.0) | 25 (20.3) | NA |
| RE works collaboratively with PC services | |||||
| Yes | 32 (55.2) | 19 (45.2) | 12 (52.2) | 63 (51.2) | 0.62 |
| No | 26 (44.8) | 23 (54.8) | 11 (47.8) | 60 (48.8) | 0.62 |
Note: NA, not available as cell counts of <5 precluded statistical analyses. RHP, Respiratory Health Professionals; RE, Respiratory Educator; PC, Palliative Care.