title: Public awareness, knowledge of availability, and readiness for cancer palliative care services: a population-based survey across four regions in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explores the distribution of public awareness, knowledge of availability, and readiness for palliative care services, and the perceived reliability of information resources as part of a nationwide palliative care implementation intervention in Japan (Outreach Palliative Care Trial of Integrated Regional Model [OPTIM]).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted, and 3984 responses were used in the final analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 63.1% of respondents admitted having no knowledge about palliative care, while 0.5% of respondents were using palliative care services. Respondents who knew about palliative care services, yet did not know about their availability were 18.6% of all respondents. Respondents who had cancer-related experiences were more likely to be aware of palliative care compared to the general population and availability of palliative care services. Only awareness of palliative care was significantly associated with two typical images, while cancer-related experiences were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings show that the public awareness of palliative care services and their availability is insufficient, and cancer-related experiences affect awareness of cancer palliative care but not directly related to typical images for palliative care such as care for patients close to death.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Communication Design, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan. khirai@grappo.jp
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matoba
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiozaki
authors.forename: Teruko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaki
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamagishi
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D010166:Palliative Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care