Multidisciplinary Approach to Palliative Care within the Regional Institute of Oncology Iaşi – Physicians’ Perception

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO PALLIATIVE CARE (Abstract). Aim: The purpose is to present an analysis regarding the information, training, need and barriers arising in the provision of palliative care among physicians of different specializations within the R egional Institute of Oncology Iaşi. Materials and methods: The data was collected through the questionnaire method, which was filled in by a number of 38 physicians. Results: All the staff surveyed was confronted in their professional activity with patients who required pa lliative care. Only 21.1% of the staff surveyed had training in palliative care certified through courses, internships or volunteering. 39.5% of the physicians surveyed believed that their p atients did not benefit from all the palliative care they would have required. All the staff surveyed (with one exception 2.6%), considered that additional training in palliative care would bring benefits in terms of quality of life of the patients who require palliative care. All the medical staff in oncology/radiology and 95.7% in the other sections considered training in the field of palliative care to be necessary as regards the professional curriculum (p = 0.827). Conclusions: The respondents stated that better training in the field of palliative care could contribute to enhancing the quality of life of their patients. The physicians surveyed shared the need to follow training courses in palliative care, claiming at the same time that a training module with a duration of approximately 3 months within residency would be b eneficial.