Davalos-Batallas, Viviana , Mahtani-Chugani, Vinita , LÓPEZ NUÑEZ, CARLA, Duque, Victor , Leon-Larios, Fatima , Lomas-Campos, Maria-de-Las-Mercedes , Sanz, Emilio
No
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health
Article
Científica
3.39
0.747
31/05/2020
000542629600159
2-s2.0-85085856466
Background: The worldwide need for palliative care is high, especially in mid- income countries like Ecuador, where the percentage of patients receiving such care is very small due to the scarcity of infrastructure and specialized personnel and to the unequal distribution in the country. The objective of this study is to explore the knowledge, attitudes and expectations related to palliative care of the physicians in Ecuador. Methods: A qualitative study based on 28 semi-structured interviews, from March 2014 to November 2016, with physicians working in four cities in Ecuador recruited through the snowball technique. Thematic analysis was developed supported by the ATLAS.ti software. Results: Five core themes were identified: (1) training, (2) health policy, (3) professionals' activities, (4) health services and (5) development of palliative care in Ecuador. Conclusions: Strategies are needed which intensify the training of medical professional in palliative care, as well as avail the human resources and materials for providing it.
disease treatment; health care; health services; health worker; human resource; mortality; qualitative analysis; article; attitude; city; Ecuador; expectation; health care policy; human; medical education; palliative therapy; physician; qualitative research; semi structured interview; software; thematic analysis; Ecuador