Expectations and barriers to the utilization of specialist palliative care services among persons living with cancer in Ghana: an exploratory qualitative study.

IF 2.7 Q2 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES
Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah, Abena Agyekum Poku, Kofi Boamah Mensah, Joshua Okyere, Maurice Mikare, Felix Apiribu, Emelia Osei Boakye, Joe-Nat Clegg Lamptey
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Abstract

Background: The need for palliative care among patients living with cancer is increasing globally. This need is far greater in resource-constrained settings like Ghana where there is a high unmet need for palliative care services. Consequently, there are lapses in the current palliative care regime, thus, resulting in suboptimal utilization.

Objective: The study aims to explore patients living with cancer's expectations of palliative care services and examine the barriers that impede palliative care utilization.

Design: Descriptive exploratory qualitative design.

Methods: A total of 15 patients living with cancer and receiving treatment in a tertiary health facility were purposively sampled to participate in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were transcribed and inductively analysed following Collaizi's qualitative analysis framework.

Results: From the analysis, the findings were grouped under two main categories: perceived expectations and barriers to utilizing palliative care. The participants expected to receive meaningful communication about their condition and prognosis; they also expected to be actively involved in palliative care decision-making. Regarding the barriers, the following themes emerged: financial constraints, unfavourable health appointment schedules, problems with the distance to the health facility, poor referral and follow-up from oncology specialists and being unaware of the availability of palliative care services.

Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a need to actively involve patients and their families in all decision-making along the continuum of palliative care service delivery. The study underscores the need for Ghana to implement an integration of palliative care services in primary healthcare facilities to avert the challenges that distance to tertiary healthcare facilities poses to palliative care utilization. Service providers must implement awareness programmes to enable patients to better comprehend palliative care services.

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期望和障碍利用专业姑息治疗服务的人癌症患者在加纳:一项探索性质的研究。
背景:全球癌症患者对姑息治疗的需求正在增加。在加纳等资源受限的环境中,这种需求要大得多,因为那里对姑息治疗服务的需求尚未得到满足。因此,在目前的姑息治疗制度中存在失误,从而导致次优利用。目的:本研究旨在探讨癌症患者对姑息治疗服务的期望,并探讨影响姑息治疗使用的障碍。设计:描述性探索性定性设计。方法:共有15名在三级卫生机构接受治疗的癌症患者被有意抽样参加本研究。进行了半结构化访谈。按照Collaizi的定性分析框架对数据进行转录和归纳分析。结果:从分析中,研究结果分为两大类:感知期望和使用姑息治疗的障碍。参与者希望收到关于他们的病情和预后的有意义的沟通;他们还希望积极参与姑息治疗的决策。关于障碍,出现了以下主题:财政限制、不利的保健预约时间表、与保健设施的距离问题、肿瘤专家的转诊和后续工作不到位以及不知道可以提供姑息治疗服务。结论:总之,在姑息治疗服务提供的连续性过程中,有必要让患者及其家属积极参与所有决策。该研究强调了加纳需要在初级卫生保健设施中实施姑息治疗服务的整合,以避免与三级卫生保健设施的距离对姑息治疗利用造成的挑战。服务提供者必须实施提高认识规划,使患者更好地了解姑息治疗服务。
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来源期刊
Palliative Care and Social Practice
Palliative Care and Social Practice Nursing-Advanced and Specialized Nursing
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
0.00%
发文量
37
审稿时长
9 weeks
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