Assessment of Palliative-Care Knowledge Among Health-Sciences Students and Health-Care Workers in Albania: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Palliative care is a core component of person-centred health services, but undergraduate and early professional health-sciences training often provides uneven exposure to symptom management, communication and ethical decision-making. This study assessed palliative-care knowledge among health-sciences students and health-care workers in Albania using an adapted Albanian version of the Palliative Care Knowledge Questionnaire-Basic (PCKQ-B). A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 27 January to 1 April 2026. The final dataset included 317 completed responses. The questionnaire covered caregiver self-care, indications and timing of palliative care, pain management, prognosis communication, resuscitation and DNAR/DNR decision-making, psychosocial-spiritual care and bereavement care. Correct responses were scored as 1 and incorrect or “do not know” responses as 0, yielding a total score from 0 to 19. Adequate knowledge was defined a priori as ≥15 correct responses. Bivariate and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed. The mean age was 24.9±9.6 years, and most respondents were female. The mean knowledge score was 11.4±3.5 out of 19; 43 respondents (13.6%) reached the adequate-knowledge threshold. Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha=0.73). Correctness was highest for advanced cancer as an indication for palliative care, caregiver self-care and clear prognosis communication. Lower correctness was observed for cancer pain pharmacology, placebo use, continuation of non-opioid analgesics with morphine, resuscitation in advanced metastatic cancer and DNAR/DNR decision-making. No covariate showed a statistically significant adjusted association with adequate knowledge.

Palliative-care knowledge was partial, with relevant gaps in pain management, ethical decision-making and holistic care. Structured, competency-based teaching with case-based pain-management modules, simulation and communication training is warranted.