1. Handbook for Certificate Course in Essentials of Palliative Care, 3rd ed.India: Institute of Palliative
Medicine for Indian Association of Palliative Care; 2009:13-14.
2. J.Kishore.National Health Programmes of India, 9th ed.India: Century Publications, New Delhi;
2011:79-81.
3. Simon Walker and Rod Macleod. Palliative Care Knowledge of Some South Island GPs.NZFP 2005;
32(2):88-93.
4. Samaroo B. Assessing Palliative Care Educational Needs of Physicians and Nurses: Results of a Survey.
Journal of Palliative Care 1996; 12(2):20-22.
5. Miller KE, Miller MM, Single N. Barriers to Hospice Care: Family Physician’s Perceptions. The
Hospice J 1997; 12:29-41.
practitioner did not give any response.
The commonest cause of diarrhoea in Palliative Medicine
is imbalance use of laxatives.1 However in present study
only 26(12.80%) GPs rightly specified that imbalance of
laxative therapy is most common cause of diarrhoea in
palliative care settings.
There is no place for use of pethidine in palliative care
because of its short duration of action and toxic profile of
its metabolite i.e. nor-pethidine. [13] In present study, 139
(68.47%) GPs considered that pethidine should not be
used in palliative medicine. However, 36(17.73%),
16(7.88%) and 12 (5.91%) GPs opted for Fentanyl,
Tramadol and Morphine respectively.
Haloperidol was selected as a first line of drug for opioid
induced nausea and vomiting by only 40(19.70%)
general practitioners. Hundred and twenty eight (63.05%)
GPs preferred metaclopramide and 35(17.24%) opted for
domperidone as a first line drug for opioid induced
nausea and vomiting. Similarly Haloperidol is also preferred
drug of choice in management of delirium. This was
correctly identified by 75(36.94%) GPs. However,
64(31.52%), 37(18.22%) and 27(13.30%) GPs opted for
Diazepam, Lorezapam and Olanzapine respectively.
In present study, statistically significant association was not
observed between GP’s current knowledge about palliative
care and their work duration, age (χ2 = 2.21, df = 1, p =
0.529) as well as sex (χ2 = 2.98, df =1, p = 0.084). The
present study findings are comparable with study findings of
Luminita Dumitrescu et.al. [8] who reported significant
correlation between GP’s experience in palliative care
provision and their age, sex and place of work in Romania.
Conclusion:
Our study reiterates the need for active incorporation of
palliative medicine education in general practitioners to
strengthen their knowledge and skills regarding palliative
care. They should be trained adequately in palliative
medicine by renowned palliative care institutes.
Indian Journal of Basic & Applied Medical Research; March 2013: Issue-6, Vol.-2, P. 557-563
561
www.ijbamr.com
6. S.Q.Abbas, S R. Muhammad, S. M. Mubeen, S. Z. Abbas. Awareness of Palliative Medicine among
Pakistani Doctors: A Survey.J Pak Med Assoc 2004; 54(4):195-99.
7. Huda Abu-Saad Huijer and Hani Dimassi. Palliative Care in Lebanon: Knowledge, Attitudes and
Practices of Physicians and Nurses. Lebanese Medical Journal 2007; 55(3):121-28.
8. Luminita Dumitrescu, Wim J.A.Van den Heuvel, Marinela van den Heuvel-Olaroiu. Experiences,
Knowledge and Opinions on Palliative Care Among Romanian General Practitioners. Croat Med J
2006: 47:142-47.
9. Sandra Alamino Felix de Moraes, Maisa Carla Kairalla. Assessing knowledge of Medical undergraduate
students on palliative care in end-stage disease patients. Einstein 2010; 8:162-7.
10. Luciana Pricoli Vilelai and Paulo Caramelli. Knowledge of the Definition of Euthanasia: Study with
Doctors.Rev Assoc Med Bras 2009; 55(3):263-67.
11. Asadi-Lari M, Madjd Z,Afkari ME, Goushegir A,Baradaran HR. The Concept of Palliative Care among
Iranian General Practitioners. IJCP 2009; 3:111-16.
12. Mette L Rurup, Christiaan A Rhodius, Sander D Borgsteede, Manon SA Boddaert, Astrid GM Keijser,
H Roeline W Pasman et.al. The use of opioids at the End of Life: The knowledge Level of Dutch
Physicians as a Potential Barrier to Effective Pain Management.BMC Palliative Care 2010; 9(23):3-12.
13. The IAHPC Manual of Palliative Care.2nd Edition. Available from http://www.hospicecare.com /
manual/ toc-main / html (Last accessed on 2012, July 12)
14. Weise CH, Lassen CL, Vormelker J, Meyer N,Popov AF,Graf BM et.al. ‘Physicians knowledge on
cancer pain therapy: comparison of palliative care and prehospital emergency physicians in
training.Schmerz 2011; 25(6): 654-62.
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