Assessment of Palliative Care Knowledge and Attitudes Among General Practitioners in Kaduna State

Background: Palliative care is an integral component of comprehensive family medicine practice, particularly for patients with chronic and terminal illnesses. Despite increasing cancer and chronic disease burden in Nigeria, palliative care knowledge among general practitioners in the North West geopolitical zone remains understudied. This study assesses palliative care knowledge and attitudes among general practitioners in Kaduna State. Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled 140 general practitioners using a validated palliative care knowledge and attitude assessment tool. Participants were recruited through the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were applied. Results: Knowledge of palliative care principles was low among most respondents. Misconceptions equating palliative care with end-of-life care were prevalent. Attitudes towards integrating palliative care into general practice were generally positive among those with prior palliative care exposure. Conclusion: Palliative care education is urgently needed within postgraduate family medicine training programmes in Kaduna State. Family medicine practitioners should be equipped to manage pain, provide psychosocial support, and coordinate end-of-life care as part of holistic patient management. Keywords: palliative care, general practitioners, Kaduna State, knowledge, attitude