Pioneering Compassion: Assessing Preparedness Of Barangay Health Workers in Delivering Primary Palliative Care

Author/s: Berenice A. Failon, MD, DFM, Josephine V. Gimpaya, Ph.D. |

The Universal Health Care Act ensures access to palliative care across all levels of healthcare settings, emphasizing a holistic approach. This study assessed the preparedness of barangay health workers (BHWs) in delivering primary palliative care and its implications for health policy development. The study utilized a descriptive design and employed the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Pearson's correlation coefficient to analyze the data. The findings revealed that limited knowledge of healthcare principles adversely affected the quality of care and communication with patients. However, BHWs with more experience demonstrated improved skills and proficiency. The study identified that BHWs had a foundational awareness of general principles, communication, and grief and bereavement support, with average competence in delivering palliative care services. Variations in attitudes and perceptions, particularly concerning end-of-life care, were also noted among BHWs. These insights underscore the urgent need for targeted training to enhance BHWs' effectiveness in palliative care, emphasizing the importance of this initiative.