• Rod D MacLeod, Rachel Thompson, John W Fisher, Kris Mayo, Nathan W Newman, and Donna M Wilson.
• Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. rd.macleod@auckland.ac.nz
• N. Z. Med. J. 2012 Jan 20;125(1348):51-60.

AimThis project investigated New Zealanders' views about palliative care and local hospice services.MethodA representative population-based sample of 1011 New Zealanders completed an online survey.ResultsThe age, gender, and geographic region of the 1011 participants were broadly representative of the New Zealand population. Varying awareness of hospice services and palliative care were displayed among respondents, with age and gender influencing awareness.ConclusionsThere was a reasonably good understanding of the concept of palliative care. However, participants could not always identify local hospices, with younger people and males more unaware of accessible hospice services. Low levels of understanding point to the need for continued public education so that the holistic nature of palliative care is understood and accessible hospice services are sought when required.

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