Table 2.
Levels of Knowledge and Correct-Incorrect Answer Rates per Item (N = 102)
| Knowledge (Range) | Total (N = 102) | CHF (n = 26) (a) | Stroke (n = 26) (b) | ESRD (n = 25) (c) | ESLD (n = 25) (d) | F(p) | ||
| Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | ||||
| Total (0–20) | 9.73 ± 2.10 | 9.35 ± 1.74 | 9.27 ± 2.32 | 9.52 ± 2.33 | 10.80 ± 1.66 | 3.13 (.029) (b < d) | ||
| Philosophy and principle (0–4) | 1.58 ± 0.83 | 1.62 ± 0.90 | 1.23 ± 0.77 | 1.72 ± 0.79 | 1.76 ± 0.78 | 2.29 (.084) | ||
| Pain and symptom management (0–13) | 6.39 ± 1.65 | 5.96 ± 1.54 | 6.27 ± 1.78 | 6.04 ± 1.65 | 7.32 ± 1.31 | 3.99 (.010) (a, c < d) | ||
| Psychosocial aspects of care (0–3) | 1.75 ± 0.84 | 1.77 ± 0.86 | 1.77 ± 0.71 | 1.76 ± 0.93 | 1.72 ± 0.89 | 0.02 (.996) | ||
| Item No | Subdomain | Item (answer) | Response (%) | |||||
| CHF (n = 26) | Stroke (n = 26) | ESRD (n = 25) | ESLD (n = 25) | Total (N = 102) | ||||
| Correct (incorrect) | Correct (incorrect) | Correct (incorrect) | Correct (incorrect) | Correct (incorrect) | ||||
| 1 | Philosophy and principle | Palliative care is appropriate only in situations where there is evidence of a downhill trajectory or deterioration (F) | 18.6 (6.9) | 18.6 (6.9) | 17.6 (6.9) | 19.6 (4.9) | 74.5 (25.5) | |
| 9 | Philosophy and principle | The provision of palliative care requires emotional detachment (F) | 5.9 (19.6) | 3.9 (21.6) | 7.8 (16.7) | 8.8 (15.7) | 26.5 (73.5) | |
| 12 | Philosophy and principle | The philosophy of palliative care is compatible with that of aggressive treatment (T) | 12.7 (12.7) | 8.8 (16.7) | 14.7 (9.8) | 14.7 (9.8) | 51.0 (49.0) | |
| 17 | Philosophy and principle | The accumulation of losses renders burnout inevitable for those who seek work in palliative care (F) | 3.9 (21.6) | 0.0 (25.5) | 2.0 (22.5) | 0.0 (24.5) | 5.9 (94.1) | |
| 2 | Pain and symptom management | Morphine is the standard used to compare the analgesic effect of other opioids (T) | 3.9 (21.6) | 7.8 (17.6) | 8.8 (15.7) | 10.8 (13.7) | 31.4 (68.6) | |
| 3 | Pain and symptom management | The extent of the disease determines the method of pain treatment (F) | 9.8 (15.7) | 10.8 (14.7) | 10.8 (13.7) | 6.9 (17.6) | 38.2 (61.8) | |
| 4 | Pain and symptom management | Adjuvant therapies are important in managing pain (T) | 25.5 (0.0) | 24.5 (1.0) | 21.6 (2.9) | 24.5 (0.0) | 96.1 (3.9) | |
| 6 | Pain and symptom management | During the last days of life, the drowsiness associated with electrolyte imbalance may decrease the need for sedation (T) | 2.0 (23.5) | 4.9 (20.6) | 2.9 (21.6) | 2.9 (21.6) | 12.7 (87.3) | |
| 7 | Pain and symptom management | Drug addiction is a major problem when morphine is used on a long-term basis for the management of pain (F) | 5.9 (19.6) | 9.8 (15.7) | 7.8 (16.7) | 9.8 (14.7) | 33.3 (66.7) | |
| 8 | Pain and symptom management | Individuals who are taking opioids should also follow a bowel regimen (T) | 22.5 (2.9) | 21.6 (3.9) | 20.6 (3.9) | 23.5 (1.0) | 88.2 (11.8) | |
| 10 | Pain and symptom management | During the terminal stages of an illness, drugs that can cause respiratory depression are appropriate for the treatment of severe dyspnoea (T) | 4.9 (20.6) | 8.8 (16.7) | 3.9 (20.6) | 9.8 (14.7) | 27.5 (72.5) | |
| 13 | Pain and symptom management | The use of placebos is appropriate in the treatment of some types of pain (F) | 2.0 (23.5) | 1.0 (24.5) | 2.9 (21.6) | 0.0 (24.5) | 5.9 (94.1) | |
| 14 | Pain and symptom management | In high doses, codeine causes more nausea and vomiting than morphine (T) | 9.8 (15.7) | 6.9 (18.6) | 6.9 (17.6) | 13.7 (10.8) | 37.3 (62.7) | |
| 15 | Pain and symptom management | Suffering and physical pain are synonymous (F) | 18.6 (6.9) | 14.7 (10.8) | 17.6 (6.9) | 18.6 (5.9) | 69.6 (30.4) | |
| 16 | Pain and symptom management | Demerol is not an effective analgesic in the control of chronic pain (T) | 10.8 (14.7) | 16.7 (8.8) | 14.7 (9.8) | 18.6 (5.9) | 60.8 (39.2) | |
| 18 | Pain and symptom management | Manifestations of chronic pain are different from those of acute pain (T) | 19.6 (5.9) | 18.6 (6.9) | 14.7 (9.8) | 20.6 (3.9) | 73.5 (26.5) | |
| 20 | Pain and symptom management | The pain threshold is lowered by anxiety or fatigue (T) | 16.7 (8.8) | 13.7 (11.8) | 14.7 (9.8) | 19.6 (4.9) | 64.7 (35.3) | |
| 5 | Psychosocial and spiritual care | It is crucial for family members to remain at the bedside until death occurs (T) | 24.5 (1.0) | 24.5 (1.0) | 23.5 (1.0) | 24.5 (0.0) | 97.1 (2.9) | |
| 11 | Psychosocial and spiritual care | Men generally reconcile their grief more quickly than women (F) | 12.7 (12.7) | 6.9 (18.6) | 10.8 (13.7) | 9.8 (14.7) | 40.2 (59.8) | |
| 19 | Psychosocial and spiritual care | The loss of a distant or contentious relationship is easier to resolve than the loss of one who is close or intimate (F) | 7.8 (17.6) | 13.7 (11.8) | 8.8 (15.7) | 7.8 (16.7) | 38.2 (61.8) | |
SD standard deviation, CHF Congestive heart failure, ESRD end-stage renal disease, ESLD end-stage liver disease, Post Hoc: Tukey HSD