title: A population-based survey on perceptions of opioid treatment and palliative care units: OPTIM study.
abstract: This study aimed to clarify the general public's perceptions of opioids and palliative care units (PCUs) and explore factors related to such perceptions. A cross-sectional, anonymous questionnaire was administered to 8000 people. Although a majority agreed with positive perceptions of opioids and PCUs, some also agreed with negative perceptions, such as opioids are addictive and shorten life (28% and 27%, respectively). Multiregression analyses revealed that respondents with a better knowledge of PCUs had higher positive perceptions than those without such knowledge (P <.001). The higher positive perceptions were associated with a higher sense of security regarding regional cancer care (P < .001). Providing the general public with adequate knowledge about palliative care may improve perceptions of palliative care and the sense of security.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Gerontological Nursing, Graduate School of Health Care Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Nobuya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akizuki
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirahige
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: end-of-life care; general public; opioid treatments; palliative care unit; perceptions; sense of security