Doctors’ Training and Knowledge in End of Life Care: Case Study of Three Mission Hospitals in Kenya

Abstract

There is an increasing number of people in Kenya with life limiting illnesses who require palliative and end of life care. In developed countries such care is often given in a hospice or at home by palliative service professionals. In Kenya, there are limited such resources and therefore this care frequently ends up being offered by inpatient healthcare professionals spear-headed by doctors. To assess doctors’ previous training and current knowledge in end of life care, a descriptive cross-sectional survey utilizing a questionnaire was administered to doctors working in three mission hospitals in Kenya. Nearly half of the doctors had never received any form of undergraduate training in end of life care. Those clinicians who had received more intensive end of life care training appeared to have a greater knowledge of end of life care management. Curriculum reviewers should incorporate end of life care as part of training for all doctors.