DOI: 10.4103/gaoh.gaoh_1_26 ISSN: 3118-250X

Public Awareness and Understanding of Palliative Care in the United Arab Emirates: Insights from a Population-Based Survey

Mahmoud Ahmed Elshafey, Ahmed Gabr Aldhaheri, Waleed Mezher Alabdli, Hamad Hisham Alhammadi, Khalifa Mohammad AlOlama, Yasin Wissi, Salem Omar Alameri, Ahmad Tariq Kalantar, Abdulrahman Mahmoud Basioni, Albesher Y. Alfoteih, Mariam Ali Alnaqbi, Mohammed Humaid Al-Shamsi, Sarah Humaid Al-Shamsi, Abdulla Humaid Al-Shamsi, Nour Abushousha, Wessam Alkrad, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Amal Al Balushi, Faryal Iqbal, Neil Arun Nijhawan
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Abstract

Palliative care (PC) is essential medical care for improving the quality of life for patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families. There has been substantial evolution of PC services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), yet public awareness regarding PC remains shallow, hindering its utilization and acceptance on a large scale. This study aimed to evaluate public perceptions and awareness of PC in the UAE. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in both Arabic and English. Responses from the UAE residents revealed significant gaps in knowledge: only n = 104 (14.6%) of Arabic respondents were “very familiar” with PC, compared with n = 46 (41.8%) of English-speaking participants ( Q7 ). Notably, a total of n = 742 (90.0%) of respondents supported raising awareness about PC ( Q18 ). However, disparities in awareness and familiarity between Arabic-speaking and English-speaking groups emphasized the need for targeted educational initiatives and culturally tailored communication strategies by healthcare providers. This study emphasized the need for addressing these gaps to integrate PC effectively into the UAE healthcare system, ensuring equitable access and improved quality of life for patients and their families.

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