Predictors of knowledge and attitudes toward palliative care among patients with cancer: a cross-sectional study

Palliative care (PC) can help improve the quality of life of patients with cancer. The knowledge and attitudes of cancer patients toward PC play a significant role in the use of PC services. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying factors that predict the knowledge and attitudes of cancer patients toward PC. A multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 247 cancer patients referred to two teaching hospitals in Tehran city. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected via demographic and clinical information forms, the Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS), and the Palliative Care Attitude Scale (PCAS-9). The data were analyzed via a multivariate linear regression model with SPSS.v.25. The mean age of the participants was 52.13 (SD = 15.57) and most (52.6%) were female. The majority of patients (34.8%) had stage 4 cancer and were undergoing combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (48.6%). The mean score of knowledge about PC was 10.42 (SD = 2.22), and the mean score of attitudes toward PC was 30.05 (SD = 6.42). More knowledge about PC was significantly associated with being female (β = 0.155, P < 0.021) and having a university education (β = 0.305, P < 0.001). Greater knowledge about PC (β = 0.305, P < 0.001), being retired (β = 0.163, P < 0.012), and a lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (β = - 0.218, P < 0.002) were associated with positive attitudes toward PC. Greater knowledge about PC was the strongest predictor of positive attitudes toward PC. Considering the important role of knowledge and attitudes in the acceptance of PC, educational interventions to increase the awareness of cancer patients about PC are necessary.