Knowledge, Attitudes and Expectations of Physicians with Respect to Palliative Care in Ecuador: A Qualitative Study

Viviana Dávalos-Batallas, Vinita Mahtani-Chugani, Carla López-Núñez, Víctor Duque, Fatima Leon-Larios, Maria- de-las-Mercedes Lomas-Campos and Emilio Sanz
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Viviana Dávalos-Batallas: Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), Loja 110107, Ecuador
Vinita Mahtani-Chugani: Research Unit of the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital and Management Office for Primary Care of Tenerife, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Carla López-Núñez: Department of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, 41012 Seville, Spain
Víctor Duque: Úbeda Health Center, Jaén Northeast Health District Andalusian Health Service, 23400 Jaén, Spain
Fatima Leon-Larios: Nursing Department. Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
Maria- de-las-Mercedes Lomas-Campos: Nursing Department. Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
Emilio Sanz: Pharmacology and Physical Medicine Department, University of La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Background: The worldwide need for palliative care is high, especially in mid- income countries like Ecuador, where the percentage of patients receiving such care is very small due to the scarcity of infrastructure and specialized personnel and to the unequal distribution in the country. The objective of this study is to explore the knowledge, attitudes and expectations related to palliative care of the physicians in Ecuador. Methods: A qualitative study based on 28 semi-structured interviews, from March 2014 to November 2016, with physicians working in four cities in Ecuador recruited through the snowball technique. Thematic analysis was developed supported by the ATLAS.ti software. Results: Five core themes were identified: (1) training, (2) health policy, (3) professionals’ activities, (4) health services and (5) development of palliative care in Ecuador. Conclusions: Strategies are needed which intensify the training of medical professional in palliative care, as well as avail the human resources and materials for providing it.

Keywords: palliative care; Ecuador; medical education; competency framework; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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