ABSTRACT Globally, 35 million people experience pain and suffering caused by old age or by lifelimiting conditions such as cancer, AIDS, and other chronic diseases. This study was purposely to examine the knowledge, attitude and practice of Health Workers about Palliative care at Ishaka Adventist Hospital, Bushenyi district. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design which employed qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection within a short period of only two weeks. The study was conducted in HIV clinic, General outpatient department, maternity, female and male ward in Ishaka Adventist Hospital. Most of 62 the study participants 42 (68%) had certificates as their current qualification while lowest 1 (2%) had master degree this because education qualification affect knowledge of a person. About 97% of health workers were aware of PC services, few 3% were partly aware and their source of information was from Hospice trainers (50%) and few 10% got information over the radio/television/ internet. Results showed majority 48% of the participants prefer to access terminally ill patient with using pain intensity, 39% prefer grade with face appearance and lowest 13% use pain location, manages severe pain using morphine, 6% (4) use other like Pethidine and lowest 2% (10) manage severe pain using codeine. Results showed that participants prefer to access terminally ill patient with using pain intensity, grade with face appearance and use pain location, manages severe pain using morphine, use other like Pethidine and lowest using codeine.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT................................................................................................................... i

COPYRIGHT................................................................................................................ ii

AUTHORIZATION.....................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION............................................................................................................. iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT............................................................................................ v

TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................. vi

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... x

LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................... xi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................................... xii

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS ......................................................................................xiii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Background of the Study ........................................................................................ 1

1.3 Statement of the Problem........................................................................................ 3

1.4 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................... 4

1.5 Study Objectives..................................................................................................... 4

1.5.1 General Objective ................................................................................................ 4

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1.5.2 Specific Objectives .............................................................................................. 4

1.6 Research Questions................................................................................................. 5

1.7 Justification of the Study ........................................................................................ 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................... 7

2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 7

2.2 Knowledge of health workers about Palliative care ............................................... 7

2.3 Attitude of health workers about Palliative care..................................................... 9

2.4 The practice of health workers about Palliative care ............................................ 11

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ................................................................... 13

3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 13

3.2 Study design and rationale.................................................................................... 13

3.3 Study setting and rationale.................................................................................... 13

3.4 Study population ................................................................................................... 14

3.4.1 Sample Size Determination................................................................................ 14

3.4.2 Sampling procedure ........................................................................................... 15

3.5 Inclusion and exclusion criteria ............................................................................ 15

3.5.1 Inclusion criteria ................................................................................................ 15

3.5.2 Exclusion criteria ............................................................................................... 16

3.6 Study variables...................................................................................................... 16

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3.6.1 Dependent variable ............................................................................................ 16

3.6.2 Independent variables ........................................................................................ 16

3.6.3 Confounding variable......................................................................................... 16

3.7 Research instruments............................................................................................ 17

3.8 Data collection procedures.................................................................................... 17

3.8.1 Data management............................................................................................... 17

3.9 Data analysis and presentation.............................................................................. 17

3.10 Ethical considerations......................................................................................... 18

3.11 Limitations of the study ...................................................................................... 18

3.12 Dissemination of the results................................................................................ 19

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ................................................................................... 20

4.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 20

4.2 Demographic characteristics of the study participants ......................................... 20

4.3 Knowledge of health workers about Palliative care ............................................. 22

4.4 Attitude of health workers about Palliative care................................................... 27

4.5 The practice of health workers about Palliative care ............................................ 31

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS ........ 36

5.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 36

5.2 Discussion of the result......................................................................................... 36

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5.2.1 Demographic characteristics of the study participants ...................................... 36

5.2.2 Knowledge of health workers about Palliative care .......................................... 37

5.2.3 Attitude of health workers about Palliative care................................................ 38

5.2.4 The practice of health workers about Palliative care ......................................... 39

5.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 40

5.4 Recommendations................................................................................................. 41

5.5 Implications to nursing practice............................................................................ 41

5.6 Future research topic............................................................................................. 41

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 42

APPENDICES............................................................................................................. 46

Appendix I: Consent Form.......................................................................................... 46

Appendix II: Questionnaire......................................................................................... 47

Appendix III: Letter of Authorization......................................................................... 55

Appendix IV: Map of Uganda showing location of Bushenyi district ....................... 56

Appendix V: Map of Bushenyi district showing location of Ishaka Adventist hospital

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