Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of health professionals in rural areas (n = 255)
Variables | N (%) |
|---|---|
Sex | |
 Male | 72 (28.2) |
 Female | 183 (71.8) |
Education | |
  < College/bachelor’s degree | 24 (9.4) |
 Bachelor’s degree | 160 (62.8) |
 Masters agree or above | 71 (27.8) |
 Age (mean, SD) | 34.82 (7.04, 23–62) |
Marital status | |
 Married | 209 (82.0) |
 Single | 44 (17.2) |
 Divorced/Separated | 2 (0.8) |
Ward | |
 Oncology | 124 (48.6) |
 Radiotherapy | 44 (17.3) |
 Geriatrics | 23 (9.0) |
 Other (e.g., hematology, rehabilitation, intensive care unit) | 64 (25.1) |
Occupation | |
 Nurse (e.g., nurse, head nurse, chief nurse) | 109 (42.7) |
 Physician (e.g., resident, Attending, chief) | 146 (57.3) |
 Clinical year (mean, SD, range) | 10.20 (7.27, 6 months-40 years) |
Had palliative care trainings, past 2Â years | |
 Never | 113 (44.3) |
 1–2 trainings, per year | 123 (48.2) |
 At least 1 training, per 6 months | 19 (7.5) |
Had ever taken care of seriously ill people at home | |
 Yes | 86 (33.7) |
 No | 169 (66.3) |
Had experience the loss of a significant other in the past year | |
 Yes | 47 (18.4) |
 No | 208 (81.6) |
Levels of knowledge of palliative care | |
 Not understand at all/less understand | 82 (32.2) |
 Somewhat understand | 134 (52.5) |
 More Understand/ understand very well | 39 (15.3) |