Perceptions of Batangueños Towards Palliative Care

The study aimed to explore the perceptions of Batangueño families towards palliative care. Specifically, it aimed to assess the level of understanding of Batangueños towards palliative care, to determine factors affecting the level of understanding of Batangueños towards palliative care, to assess the readiness of the family to engage in palliative care and lastly, to assess the available facilities or resources on palliative care. Quantitative descriptive research design was used in the study. The findings revealed that the Batangueños’ understanding of palliative care is limited and focuses only on the patients’ comfort and dignity amidst the onset of a life-threatening disease. Financial constraints and limited awareness on the concept of palliative care affect the acceptance of palliative and create doubts in terms of practicing palliative care. Despite the difficulties that the family of patients with chronic diseases faced, they are willing and ready to engage in palliative care if it would provide comfort to the patient. Furthermore, the sense of hope motivates them to engage in palliative care. The most important palliative care available is the knowledge for the patients’ families which is extremely important given the close family ties traditions and culture of the respondents while the issue of full insurance coverage is yet to be offered in the palliative care program.

Keywords – Palliative Care, life-threatening disease