Table 3 Assessment of pharmacists’ attitude towards palliative care

1.I enjoy working in palliative care (n = 109)

16 (14.7)

40 (36.7)

8 (7.3)

32 (29.4)

13 (11.9)

2. I feel relaxed around people receiving palliative care (n = 105)

5 (4.8)

9 (8.6)

48 (45.7)

36 (34.3)

7 (6.7)

3. I feel confident in managing symptoms in palliative care (n = 106)

1 (0.9)

9 (8.5)

35 (33.0)

52 (49.1)

9 (8.5)

4. I feel comfortable talking about dying to a patient receiving palliative care (n = 105)

19 (18.1)

39 (37.1)

34 (32.4)

10 (9.5)

3 (2.9)

5. I don’t mind working in palliative care despite its involvement in managing people with life-limiting illness (n = 108)

4 (3.7)

12 (11.1)

58 (53.7)

25 (23.1)

9 (8.3)

6. There is a difference between providing palliative care service and normal hospital care (n = 108)

35 (32.4)

54 (50.0)

10 (9.3)

7 (6.5)

2 (1.9)

SD (5)

D (4)

U (3)

A (2)

SA (1)

7. I am not comfortable touching people with terminal illness (n = 107)

31 (29.0)

51 (47.7)

18 (16.8)

6 (5.6)

1 (0.9)

8. I don’t believe that pharmacists have any role to play as a member of palliative care team (n = 108)

68 (62.9)

29 (26.9)

8 (7.4)

1 (0.9)

2 (1.9)

9. I feel frustrated because I do not know how to help people receiving palliative care (n = 107)

21 (19.6)

53 (49.5)

25 (23.4)

8 (7.5)

0 (0.0)

10. It is not rewarding to work with people who are receiving palliative care (n = 108)

39 (36.1)

51 (47.2)

11 (10.2)

4 (3.7)

3 (2.8)

11. I am not familiar with pain symptoms necessary for palliative care (n = 105)

7 (6.7)

43 (41.0)

18 (17.1)

33 (31.4)

4 (3.8)

12. Working with terminally ill patients is sad and depressing (n = 107)

7 (6.5)

26 (24.3)

22 (20.6)

41 (38.3)

11 (10.3)

13. Emotionally I don’t fit into palliative care (n = 103)

18 (17.5)

42 (40.8)

32 (31.1)

7 (6.8)

4 (3.8)

Cut-off for overall percent attitude score

> 75

≤ 75