Occupational therapists' knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers regarding palliative care: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

چکیده اصلی

BACKGROUND: Palliative care (PC) is a specialized healthcare approach dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses. While global standards emphasize a multidisciplinary team, the specific role of Occupational Therapy (OT) within the Saudi Arabian PC landscape remains under-investigated. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers of Saudi Occupational therapists (OTs). METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 50 licensed occupational therapists in Saudi Arabia. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including Pearson's Chi-square and Independent Samples t-tests, to evaluate the influence of education and experience on PC competencies. RESULTS: 50% of participants demonstrated "average" knowledge, and 80% reported positive attitudes. However, critical gaps were identified, with 94% incorrectly believing PC is only for the terminal stages. Statistical analysis revealed that therapists who received PC training during their university education had significantly higher knowledge scores (p = 0.041) than those who did not. The primary barrier to practice was a lack of awareness regarding the OT role (54%). CONCLUSION: Although Saudi occupational therapists mainly held favorable views about PC, there were notable knowledge gaps and misunderstandings regarding palliative care. The most significant barrier identified was a lack of awareness of the OT role in a palliative setting. As such, integrating standardized PC modules into OT curricula is vital for raising the awareness of the OT role and aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 healthcare objectives.

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