[An overview on palliative care and the end of life. Results of a survey conducted in a sample of the French population].
OBJECTIVE
To have an overview of the French population concerning palliative care.


METHODS
French opinion poll, based on a questionnaire submitted to 302 persons recruited at random in the street, in several regions of France. It included questions concerning the representation of pain, the sick body, death, the end of life and palliative care.


RESULTS
Regarding the management of pain, the majority of persons surveyed (59.6%) felt that the general practitioner was the appropriate referent to treat pain. The population's experience with regard to the death of a close relative revealed that death had occurred in hospital in 58.3% of cases. Nevertheless, the majority (57%) of the population wished to die in their own home. The concept of palliative care centres is increasing in the public's mind, but remains vague in its practical aspects for 60.9% of the population surveyed. For 29.5% of the population surveyed, information and training of health professionals in palliative care was considered as a priority.


CONCLUSIONS
The end of life and death is a source of fear for most of the population. This motivates a transfer towards the medical corps for the professional and technical management of this period of life, and the health professionals must be prepared to respond appropriately to this specific demand.
Beuzart
Pascale
P
Centre gérontologique de Champmaillot, Dijon.
Ricci
Laurence
L
Ritzenthaler
Michèle
M
Bondu
Dominique
D
Girardier
Jacques
J
Béal
Jean-Louis
JL
Pfitzenmeyer
Pierre
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care; D011639:Public Opinion; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires