New survey data has highlighted limited community understanding around the broader meaning of palliative care and a general reluctance to engage in conversations on death and dying.

A national education campaign – Palliative Care It’s more than you think– has been created to engage the community in a conversation about the benefits of palliative care.

The multimedia campaign developed by Palliative Care Australia (PCA), with the support of the Australian Government, seeks to challenge perceptions that palliative care is a ‘last resort’ and empower individuals to engage with their health care professionals early in their diagnosis in the hope to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

It is conservatively estimated that in addition to the 40,000 Australians receiving palliative care, there are at least a further 40,000 Australians who would also benefit from palliative care treatment.

Three quarters of Australians (76 per cent) say they would ask for palliative care for themselves or a family member when first diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, there is strong evidence that Australians do not fully understand the full breadth of palliative care and its benefits, which then presents as a barrier to accessing timely care.

Fewer than four out of 10 Australians (39 per cent) correctly understand that palliative care can be requested when a person is first diagnosed with a terminal, chronic or degenerative illness.

And only three out of 10 Australians surveyed correctly understand that General Practitioners (GPs) are among those who can provide palliative care.

Almost 90 per cent of Australians surveyed last month agree that people should plan for end-of-life and think it is important to start thinking and talking about their wishes and preferences for care if they were to become seriously or terminally ill.

However, far fewer Australians; in fact, half of all respondents have done nothing regarding their end-of-life wishes, finding the subject of death and planning for the end of life too difficult to talk about and think talking about their preference for end-of-life with their family will upset them.

PCA chair Professor Meera Agar, says the campaign will help Australians better understand that palliative care helps people living with a life-limiting illness to live as well as they can by managing pain and symptoms to ensure their quality of life is maintained.

“At its heart, it is a clear and simple message; the campaign is aimed at informing, empowering and encouraging Australians living with a life-limiting illness to engage with their health care professionals early in their diagnosis, so as to live as well as possible for as long as possible,” Prof. Agar said.

The new campaign website, https://morethanyouthink.org.au/ explains clearly and simply what palliative care is, who it is for, who can provide it, and where palliative care can be provided, together with answers to frequently asked questions.

“Palliative care really is more than you think. It’s for anyone of any age – from babies to older adults – who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, and it can be provided alongside curative treatments, or when those treatments have ended,” Prof. Agar said.

Have you talked to your family about end-of-life options? If not, why not?