Table 2 Distributions of nurses’ knowledge towards palliative care at selected hospitals in Addis Ababa, May 2012
No | Characteristic | Yes N (%) | No N (%) | Don’t Know N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Do you know the definition palliative care? | 237 (69.5) | 30 (8.8) | 74 (21.7) |
2 | Palliative care is only appropriate in situations of a downhill trajectory or deterioration in conditions. | 280 (82.1) | 45 (13.2) | 16 (4.7) |
3 | The extent of the disease determines the method of pain treatment. | 290 (85) | 43 (12.6) | 8 (2.3) |
4 | Adjuvant therapies are important in managing pain. | 237 (69.5) | 30 (8.8) | 74 (21.7) |
5 | Drug addiction is a major problem when morphine is used on a long-term basis for the management of pain. | 280 (82.1) | 45 (13.2) | 16 (4.7) |
6 | The provisions of palliative care require emotional detachment. | 142 (41.6) | 160 (46.9) | 39 (11.4) |
7 | During the terminal stages of an illness, drugs that can cause respiratory depression are appropriate for the treatment of severe dyspnea. | 81 (23.8) | 181 (53.1) | 79 (23.2) |
8 | The philosophy of palliative care is compatible with that of aggressive treatment. | 112 (32.8) | 156 (45.7) | 73 (21.4) |
9 | The use of placebos is appropriate in the treatment of some types of pain. | 204 (59.8) | 61 (17.9) | 76 (22.3) |
10 | Meperidine (Demerol®) is not an effective analgesic for the control of chronic pain. | 97 (28.4) | 117 (34.3) | 127 (37.2) |
11 | The accumulation of losses renders burnout Inevitable for those who work in palliative care. | 150 (44) | 76 (22.3) | 115 (33.7) |
12 | Manifestations of chronic pain are different from those of acute pain. | 297 (87.1) | 34 (10) | 10 (2.9) |
13 | Terminally ill patients have the right to choose “Do not resuscitate” (DNR). | 225 (66) | 86 (25) | 30 (8.8) |
14 | Terminally ill patients should be encouraged to have hope against all odds. | 244 (71.6) | 67 (19.6) | 30 (8.8) |