A scoping review on pathways/models/frameworks for palliative care provision for cancer patients while admitted at hospitals within sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

Background: Tertiary hospitals are multi-specialty centers where patients are referred for various treatment modalities, including cancer diagnosis and treatment. Often, cancer patients are admitted to hospitals several times. Palliative care (PC) promotes quality of life for patients, their families and caregivers and should be integrated into cancer care at hospitals.

Aim: To review literature on PC pathways, models and frameworks for cancer care in hospitals.

Setting: Hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: The scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Four databases (Medline, Embase, AMED and Scopus) were searched. Inclusion criteria were PC, pathway/ model/framework, cancer, hospital, SSA countries and articles with abstracts. Each database was searched using OR to link synonymous words, then AND to combine all keywords. Two documents of grey literature related to the topic were included. Findings were tabulated under author, year, title, location, PC pathways and cancers. Analysis was done using descriptive methods.

Results: Of the 264 articles screened, 15 (13 studies and two reports) were included. These were from eight SSA countries. Six of the studies had a model of PC provision in hospitals within the outpatient department or oncology unit and provided by any health worker and/or a trained PC team. The other studies did not have a model but highlighted the need for one.

Conclusion: The need for PC for cancer patients in hospitals is recognised across SSA; however, countries are at different stages of developing hospital PC pathways.

Contribution: Findings will guide the formulation of a PC pathway for cervical and prostate cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in Harare Zimbabwe.