Barriers to the integration of palliative care in Ghana: evidence from a tertiary health facility.
barriers
cancer
integration
palliative care
qualitative research
Journal
Palliative care and social practice
ISSN: 2632-3524
Titre abrégé: Palliat Care Soc Pract
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101754997
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2023
2023
Historique:
received:
24
11
2022
accepted:
15
05
2023
medline:
28
6
2023
pubmed:
28
6
2023
entrez:
28
6
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Integration of palliative care (PC) in cancer management is critical to improving the overall quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Nevertheless, only a few people in need of PC services actually receive them. The study explored the barriers to the successful integration of PC in cancer management in Ghana. The design was an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design. In all, we conducted 13 interviews with service providers (7), patients (4) and caregivers (2). An inductive thematic analysis was carried out. Data were managed using QSR NVivo 12. Our study reveals the different levels of barriers that adversely affect the successful integration of PC and cancer management. Emerging from the findings are patient- and family-level barriers (denial of the primary diagnosis and understanding of PC and financial constraints), service provider-level barriers (healthcare providers' misunderstanding of PC and late referrals), and institutional and policy-level barriers (infrastructural and logistical constraints, non-inclusion of PC in the National Health Insurance Scheme, low staff strength). We conclude that different levels of barriers are encountered in the integration of PC in cancer management. There is a need for policymakers to develop comprehensive guidelines and protocols for the integration of PC into cancer management. These guidelines should address the various levels of factors that serve as barriers to PC integration. The guidelines should also emphasise the importance of early referral for PC and educate service providers on the benefits of PC for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Our findings underscore a need to include PC services and medication in the benefits package of the health insurance scheme to reduce the financial burden on patients and their families. In addition, continuous professional training of all cadre of service providers is needed to facilitate PC integration.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
Integration of palliative care (PC) in cancer management is critical to improving the overall quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Nevertheless, only a few people in need of PC services actually receive them.
Objective
UNASSIGNED
The study explored the barriers to the successful integration of PC in cancer management in Ghana.
Design
UNASSIGNED
The design was an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
In all, we conducted 13 interviews with service providers (7), patients (4) and caregivers (2). An inductive thematic analysis was carried out. Data were managed using QSR NVivo 12.
Results
UNASSIGNED
Our study reveals the different levels of barriers that adversely affect the successful integration of PC and cancer management. Emerging from the findings are patient- and family-level barriers (denial of the primary diagnosis and understanding of PC and financial constraints), service provider-level barriers (healthcare providers' misunderstanding of PC and late referrals), and institutional and policy-level barriers (infrastructural and logistical constraints, non-inclusion of PC in the National Health Insurance Scheme, low staff strength).
Conclusion
UNASSIGNED
We conclude that different levels of barriers are encountered in the integration of PC in cancer management. There is a need for policymakers to develop comprehensive guidelines and protocols for the integration of PC into cancer management. These guidelines should address the various levels of factors that serve as barriers to PC integration. The guidelines should also emphasise the importance of early referral for PC and educate service providers on the benefits of PC for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Our findings underscore a need to include PC services and medication in the benefits package of the health insurance scheme to reduce the financial burden on patients and their families. In addition, continuous professional training of all cadre of service providers is needed to facilitate PC integration.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37377742
doi: 10.1177/26323524231179980
pii: 10.1177_26323524231179980
pmc: PMC10291226
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
26323524231179980Informations de copyright
© The Author(s), 2023.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
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