Knowledge and Attitude Towards Palliative Care Among Medical Interns in a Tertiary Care Centre in Central India

Background Availability of palliative care services across India has significantly improved, but adequate training remains lacking, largely due to inadequate resources and limited sensitisation, leading to regional and state-wise disparities. Objectives The objectives of this study are to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care among medical interns and to identify the factors influencing their understanding and perspectives on this important aspect of healthcare. Materials and methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 medical interns at Government Medical College, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India. Data were collected using a pre-validated structured questionnaire after obtaining written informed consent from the participants. The questionnaire included items on knowledge, attitudes, and factors related to palliative care. In addition, sociodemographic details, including age, sex, education, and residence, were gathered. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi (version 2.3.28), and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The study recruited 112 medical interns with a mean age of 24.0 ± 1.49 years. Among the participants, 79 (70.5%) were males. While 102 (91%) interns reported awareness about palliative medicine, 50 (44.6%) had an excellent grade of knowledge regarding palliative care, and 97 (86.6%) medical interns had a positive attitude towards palliative care. There was a significant association between knowledge and attitude levels regarding palliative care (p-value = 0.0022), and notably, 99 (88.4%) medical interns expressed a need to incorporate formal palliative care training into their internship program. Conclusion Although nearly half of the interns demonstrated excellent knowledge, a substantial proportion exhibited only fair or moderate understanding, indicating variability in competency levels. There was a significant association between knowledge and attitude levels regarding palliative care among medical interns, and the vast majority acknowledged the need for formal palliative care training during internship to enhance their professional skills and improve patient care outcomes.