[Doctors' opinions on palliative care: results from a French survey on physicians attitudes and practices].
OBJECTIVE
To examine practitioners' opinions on palliative care.


METHODS
Statistical analyses were carried out on data collected from 1000 physicians recruited to participate in a study on knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to palliative care ("Palliative Care 2002"). A cluster analysis (CAH) was conducted based on responses to nine questions in order to identify homogeneous and contrasting profiles of opinions on palliative care.


RESULTS
Two distinctly different categories of profiles emerged. The first one had a restrictive approach to palliative care (n = 387; 38.7%), while the second one supported its expansion (n = 613; 61.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
A newly revised communication campaign which favoured and recognised palliative care could assist in the dissemination of related practices among physicians.
Ben Diane
M K
MK
Observatoire Régional de la Santé Provence Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, 23, rue Stanislas Torrents, 13006 Marseille, France.
Galinier
A
A
Pegliasco
H
H
Lapiana
J M
JM
Favre
R
R
Peretti-Watel
P
P
Obadia
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010819:Physician's Role