Knowledge And Attitude Towards Palliative Care Among Clinical Undergraduate Students of Physiotherapy in Nigerian Universities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marufat Oluyemisi Odetunde¹*, Olurotimi Idowu Aaron², Adaobi Magraet Okonji¹, Jessie

Chiamaka Nwankwo¹ and Afolabi Muyiwa Owojuyigbe²

Published: August 04, 2022

DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.03.059

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Abstract  

Objective: This study was conducted to assess knowledge and attitude of clinical undergraduate students of physiotherapy in Nigerian universities towards palliative care.
Materials Method: This was a cross sectional survey involving 281 (132 females and 149 males) clinical physiotherapy undergraduates from 10 purposively selected universities across Nigeria. Palliative care knowledge was assessed with a structured questionnaire on palliative care awareness while attitude was assessed using FROMMELT attitude towards care of the dying scale (FATCOD). Both questionnaires were administered online via Google forms. Socio-demographic data of each respondent was also collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Majority of respondents were males (53%), at 400 level (4th year) of study (50.9%), aged 21-25 years (87.9%), Christians (73.7%) and from south-western Nigeria (61.9%). Over 40% are from Obafemi Awolowo University and had above average knowledge (62%). Almost all, (99.6%) of the respondents displayed favourable attitude. There were significant associations between knowledge and university of respondents (p=0.001), attitude and age of respondents (p=0.003), as well as attitude and geopolitical zone of origin of respondents (p=0.006). There was significant correlation between knowledge and attitude of
respondents (r =0.441, p =0.001).
Conclusion: Clinical physiotherapy undergraduates of Nigeria Universities demonstrated above average knowledge, and positive attitudes towards palliative care which indicates better than inadequate basic palliative care knowledge among healthcare undergraduates in other climes. This suggest that Nigeria trained physiotherapists may provide satisfactory palliative care which can be improved with moderate post qualification training on the job in any part of the world. However, the knowledge gaps signify an essential need for inclusion, reform or improvement in palliative care education in the curriculum of undergraduate physiotherapy training in Nigerian universities.

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