Table 5 Perceived factors limiting pharmacists’ involvement in palliative care
General factors | Yes, n (%) | No, n (%) | Don’t know, n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Lack of awareness of the need for pharmacists in palliative care (n = 108) | 86 (79.6) | 17 (15.7) | 5 (4.6) |
Lack of access to patients’ medication profile (n = 102) | 72 (70.6) | 21 (20.6) | 9 (8.8) |
Inadequate knowledge of palliative care among pharmacists (n = 108) | 65 (60.2) | 29 (26.9) | 14 (13.0) |
Confusion of role in palliative care (n = 106) | 62 (58.5) | 30 (28.3) | 14 (13.2) |
Inadequate knowledge of concept of palliative care (n = 107) | 60 (56.1) | 37 (34.6) | 10 (9.3) |
Lack of reimbursement (n = 109) | 48 (44.0) | 39 (35.8) | 22 (20.2) |
Lack of pharmacists’ interest to work in palliative care (n = 107) | 45 (42.1) | 45 (42.1) | 17 (15.9) |
Fear of being around people with terminal illness (n = 107) | 32 (29.9) | 49 (45.8) | 26 (24.3) |
Belief that there could be a spiritual backlash from engaging in palliative care (n = 105) | 15 (14.3) | 67 (63.8) | 23 (21.9) |
Other suggested factors | Frequency | Percent | |
Rivalry among healthcare workers | 4 | 3.6 | |
Non-inclusion of palliative care in pharmacists’ routine rotations | 2 | 1.8 | |
Inadequate professional work environment | 1 | 0.9 | |