Predictors of Palliative Care Knowledge: Findings from the Health Information National Trends Survey

Palliative care is an approach to provide optimal physical, emotional, and practical support to patients with serious illnesses. In the past decade, the practice of palliative care has rapidly grown (1). While the primary goal of palliative care is to relieve a patient’s pain and suffering, there is substantial evidence that suggests that it can simultaneously improve patient outcomes, such as symptom burden and quality of life (2–4).  The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends that all patients with advanced cancer receive palliative care and treatment concurrently (5). Likewise, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines in Oncology recommends that all patients and/or caregivers should be familiarized with the importance of palliative care in a patient’s overall cancer care (6). Despite these recommendations and increased access to outpatient palliative care services in the United States, many people fail to receive necessary palliative care (1).