Patient Care for the Terminally Ill Standard in the Hospital, Health District: A case study of Banglen District, Nakhon Pathom Province

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative research were to examine patient care practices following palliative care guidelines, to investigate problems and obstacles in patient care practices following palliative care guidelines in district health promotion hospitals of Banglean District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The population was 66 health personnel. Instruments in the study included interviews and observation forms.

The findings revealed that the majority of participants were female, in the 35-44 age cohort with average age of 38.2 years old, holding a public health officer position (37.87%), and holding a bachelor’s degree (75.23%). Regarding the findings from observation on appropriate palliative care practices, it was found that overall practice was rated at a good level ( = 3.19; SD = 0.11). Two practices of palliative care were rated at a very good level from the observation: establishment of a good relationship with the patients and their relatives, and awareness of rights and confidentiality of the patients, and working ethics of the officers.

The study recommends that the allied-health officers in the district health promotion hospitals were still having difficulties in palliative care practices. Thus, clear role assignments and training sessions on the relevant laws for palliative care practices are suggested.