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Gafer N, Marhoom M, Siddig S, Ali H, Mursi M, Harðardóttir D, Harding R. Prevalence of Life-Limiting and Life-Threatening Illness and Associated Palliative Care Needs Among Hospital Inpatients in Sudan. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 63:124-130. [PMID: 34256089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Evidence is needed to inform expansion of hospital-based palliative care in low and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to measure need for palliative care among adult inpatients at five hospitals in Sudan. Objectives were to 1) measure point prevalence of life-limiting and life-threatening illness (LL/LTI); 2) determine patient insight into diagnosis and prognosis; 3) assess palliative care-related symptoms and concerns. METHODS In this two-day census, data were extracted from charts on documented LL/LTI for each occupied bed. For patients with LL/LTI, self-report data was collected on symptoms, concerns and understanding of diagnosis and prognosis using Integrated African Palliative Outcome Scale (IAPOS). RESULTS 1) Prevalence of LL/LTI in general hospitals was 30.9%-70.5%. 2) n = 439 patients gave self-report data (response rate 89.8%). Mean age was 52.3 (SD 17.8), 59% of patients correctly knew their diagnosis, and 36% knew their illness was progressive. Those with a non-cancer diagnosis were significantly less likely to know their prognosis (28.4% vs 40.7% respectively, P = 0.012). 3) Family anxiety was most burdensome (56.7% scoring on the two most severe categories on a 6-point Likert), followed by pain (52.4%), poor mobility (40.5%), patient worry (39.9%), and fatigue (36.9%). Patients unaware of prognosis had higher total IAPOS scores than those aware their prognosis was progressive, 38.9 (SD = 15.6) (t = -3.297, P = 0.001, mean difference = -5.010, 95% CI: -7.997, -2.023). CONCLUSION Care for those with life-limiting and life-threatening illness places a significant occupancy burden on public hospitals. Communication skills are required to provide patients with insight, and core palliative care skills for acute hospital clinicians are needed to manage the high burden of symptoms and concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahla Gafer
- Khartoum Oncology Hospital (N.G., S.S.), Sudan
| | | | | | - Halima Ali
- National Cancer Institute (H.A.), Wad Madani, Sudan
| | | | - Daney Harðardóttir
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care (D.H., R.H.), King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, UK.
| | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care (D.H., R.H.), King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, UK
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Jane Bates M, Gordon MRP, Gordon SB, Tomeny EM, Muula AS, Davies H, Morris C, Manthalu G, Namisango E, Masamba L, Henrion MYR, MacPherson P, Squire SB, Niessen LW. Palliative care and catastrophic costs in Malawi after a diagnosis of advanced cancer: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Glob Health 2021; 9:e1750-e1757. [PMID: 34756183 PMCID: PMC8600125 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00408-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inclusive universal health coverage requires access to quality health care without financial barriers. Receipt of palliative care after advanced cancer diagnosis might reduce household poverty, but evidence from low-income and middle-income settings is sparse. METHODS In this prospective study, the primary objective was to investigate total household costs of cancer-related health care after a diagnosis of advanced cancer, with and without the receipt of palliative care. Households comprising patients and their unpaid family caregiver were recruited into a cohort study at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi, between Jan 16 and July 31, 2019. Costs of cancer-related health-care use (including palliative care) and health-related quality-of-life were recorded over 6 months. Regression analysis explored associations between receipt of palliative care and total household costs on health care as a proportion of household income. Catastrophic costs, defined as 20% or more of total household income, sale of assets and loans taken out (dissaving), and their association with palliative care were computed. FINDINGS We recruited 150 households. At 6 months, data from 89 (59%) of 150 households were available, comprising 89 patients (median age 50 years, 79% female) and 64 caregivers (median age 40 years, 73% female). Patients in 55 (37%) of the 150 households died and six (4%) were lost to follow-up. 19 (21%) of 89 households received palliative care. Catastrophic costs were experienced by nine (47%) of 19 households who received palliative care versus 48 (69%) of 70 households who did not (relative risk 0·69, 95% CI 0·42 to 1·14, p=0·109). Palliative care was associated with substantially reduced dissaving (median US$11, IQR 0 to 30 vs $34, 14 to 75; p=0·005). The mean difference in total household costs on cancer-related health care with receipt of palliative care was -36% (95% CI -94 to 594; p=0·707). INTERPRETATION Vulnerable households in low-income countries are subject to catastrophic health-related costs following a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Palliative care might result in reduced dissaving in these households. Further consideration of the economic benefits of palliative care is justified. FUNDING Wellcome Trust; National Institute for Health Research; and EMMS International.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Jane Bates
- Department of Family Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Miriam R P Gordon
- Department of Economics, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen B Gordon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust, Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Ewan M Tomeny
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Adamson S Muula
- Department of Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Helena Davies
- Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, London, UK
| | - Claire Morris
- Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, London, UK
| | - Gerald Manthalu
- Department of Planning, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Leo Masamba
- Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Marc Y R Henrion
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust, Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Peter MacPherson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust, Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - S Bertel Squire
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Louis W Niessen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Okunade K, Bashan Nkhoma K, Salako O, Akeju D, Ebenso B, Namisango E, Soyannwo O, Namukwaya E, Dandadzi A, Nabirye E, Mupaza L, Luyirika E, Ddungu H, Chirenje ZM, Bennett MI, Harding R, Allsop MJ. Understanding data and information needs for palliative cancer care to inform digital health intervention development in Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe: protocol for a multicountry qualitative study. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e032166. [PMID: 31676657 PMCID: PMC6830840 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Palliative care is a clinically and cost-effective component of cancer services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the significant need for palliative cancer care in SSA, coverage remains inadequate. The exploration of digital health approaches could support increases in the quality and reach of palliative cancer care services in SSA. However, there is currently a lack of any theoretical underpinning or data to understand stakeholder drivers for digital health components in this context. This project addresses this gap through engaging with key stakeholders to determine data and information needs that could be supported through digital health interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a multicountry, cross-sectional, qualitative study conducted in Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe. In-depth interviews will be conducted in patients with advanced cancer (n=20), caregivers (n=15), health professionals (n=20) and policy-makers (n=10) in each of the three participating countries. Data from a total of 195 interviews will transcribed verbatim and translated into English before being imported into NVivo software for deductive framework analysis. The analysis will seek to understand the acceptability and define mechanisms of patient-level data capture and usage via digital technologies. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approvals have been obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of University of Leeds (Ref: MREC 18-032), Research Council of Zimbabwe (Ref: 03507), Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (Ref: MRCZ/A/2421), Uganda Cancer Institute (Ref: 19-2018), Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (Ref: HS325ES) and College of Medicine University of Lagos (Ref: HREC/15/04/2015). The project seeks to determine optimal mechanisms for the design and development of subsequent digital health interventions to support development, access to, and delivery of palliative cancer care in SSA. Dissemination of these findings will occur through newsletters and press releases, conference presentations, peer-reviewed journals and social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN15727711.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kennedy Bashan Nkhoma
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Omolola Salako
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - David Akeju
- Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Bassey Ebenso
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Olaitan Soyannwo
- Centre for Palliative Care, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | - Adlight Dandadzi
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Elizabeth Nabirye
- Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Z Mike Chirenje
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Michael I Bennett
- Academic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew J Allsop
- Academic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Bates MJ, Mphwatiwa T, Ardrey J, Desmond N, Niessen LW, Squire SB. Household concepts of wellbeing and the contribution of palliative care in the context of advanced cancer: A Photovoice study from Blantyre, Malawi. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202490. [PMID: 30133511 PMCID: PMC6104988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cancer and other life-limiting non-communicable diseases are on the increase in Africa affecting younger populations frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims for 'healthy life and wellbeing for all at all ages', though there is a limited understanding of wellbeing particularly from patients' and families' perspectives in these populations. Palliative care is an approach which aims to improve the quality of life for patients and families affected by life-limiting disease, though access to palliative care has been described as an issue which is 'largely ignored' on the global health agenda. The aim of this Photovoice study was to explore patient and family perspectives of wellbeing and the contribution of palliative care following a diagnosis of advanced cancer in Blantyre, Malawi. METHODS Between November 2016 and February 2017, 13 co-researchers (6 patients receiving palliative care for advanced cancer and 7 un-paid family caregivers) gathered photographs to depict aspects of their daily lives. Participatory analysis was conducted and an advocacy event (including photographic exhibits) held. RESULTS Wellbeing was described as seeing improvements in the patients' function facilitating inclusion in activities of daily living (including income generation) that had not previously been possible due to their illness. Family caregivers, neighbours and community members play a key role as 'courage givers' supported by health workers and religious groups, though discrimination in the form of social exclusion was also reported to be significant with patients expressing that they may be considered 'prematurely dead' in their community. Palliative care improves wellbeing by providing pain and symptom management enabling patients and / or family caregivers to return to household and income generating tasks. Through close interaction with households and ongoing counselling palliative care services assist to reduce fear and discrimination. CONCLUSIONS To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 for patients and families affected by life limiting illnesses in low resource settings, further understanding of the frequency and impact of discrimination is required as well as improved access to palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Jane Bates
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Treza Mphwatiwa
- African Network for the Care of Children Affected by HIV and AIDS, c/o College of Medicine, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Jane Ardrey
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Nicola Desmond
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Louis W. Niessen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - S. Bertel Squire
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Harding R. Palliative care as an essential component of the HIV care continuum. Lancet HIV 2018; 5:e524-e530. [PMID: 30025682 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(18)30110-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although antiretroviral therapy has reduced mortality among people with HIV, inadequate treatment coverage, ageing, and the increasing incidence of organ failure and malignancies mean that high-quality care should include care at the end of life. This Review summarises the epidemiology of HIV in relation to mortality, and the symptoms and concerns of people with AIDS and those living with HIV who have either related or unrelated advanced comorbidities. In response to the evidence of a need for palliative care, the principles and practice of palliative care are described, and the evidence for its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is appraised. The core practices of palliative care offer a mechanism to enhance the person-centred nature of HIV care; I identify the gaps in this type of care, and present evidence for effective models of care to address these. I detail the policies that prompt governments and health systems to respond to the palliative care needs of their population. Finally, I conclude this Review with evidence-based recommendations to improve the delivery of, and access to, high-quality HIV care until the end of life, reducing unnecessary suffering while optimising person-centred outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Harding
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy, and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery, and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, UK.
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Campbell J, Buyinza N, Hauser J. Perspective on Care at the End of Life at Hospice Africa Uganda. J Palliat Med 2018; 21:901-906. [PMID: 29649394 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since its beginning in 1993, Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) has become a leader in palliative care in Africa. Despite this, there remains a sparsity of research elucidating the priorities of patients in their care at the end of life. This study aimed to identify those priorities in three groups: patients with life-limiting illness, their caregivers, and their healthcare providers at HAU, and thus to identify differences in what these groups find important in the last month of life. METHODS A Likert scale survey of 31 statements regarding end-of-life care was administered to 46 patients, 51 caregivers, and 25 healthcare providers at HAU in Kampala, Uganda and satellite locations. ANALYSIS Variations in the responses of the groups were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test of variance. RESULTS Twelve of 31 items were significantly different, and frequency data were examined. Differences were found in categories of symptom management, future planning, and in preferred place of death. Of anxiety, pain, and shortness of breath (SOB), only control of SOB was widely agreed on as important by patients, although providers unanimously wanted to control symptoms. Many subjects in all groups found that funeral arrangements should be deferred. Most patients and caregivers felt as if dying in the hospital was preferable, whereas providers felt that home care was preferable. CONCLUSION This study tells us that patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers often have different ideas concerning what is important in end-of-life care, differences that are unique to this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Campbell
- 1 Departments of Hospital Medicine and Medical Education, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois
| | - Nasur Buyinza
- 2 Department Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa, Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joshua Hauser
- 1 Departments of Hospital Medicine and Medical Education, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois
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Abstract
Introduction A main goals of palliative care is to improve the health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced illnesses. The objective of this narrative review is to provide an updated synopsis on the use of QOL questionnaires in the palliative care setting. Areas covers Focusing on the palliative cares setting, we will define QOL, discuss how QOL instruments can be used clinically and in research, review approaches to validate these questionnaires, and how they can be used in utility analyses. Expert opinion/commentary Several QOL questionnaires, such as EORTC-QLQ-C30, McGill QOL questionnaire and EQ-5D have been validated in the palliative care setting. However, significant gaps impede their application, including lack of determination of their responsiveness to change and minimal clinically important differences, the need to conduct more psychometric validation on QOL questionnaires among patients at various stages of disease trajectory, and the paucity of studies examining utility and cost-effectiveness. Further research is needed to address these knowledge gaps so QOL questionnaires can be better used to inform clinical practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Hui
- Department of Palliative Care, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, MD D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, 77030
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Mumm R, Diaz-Monsalve S, Hänselmann E, Freund J, Wirsching M, Gärtner J, Gminski R, Vögtlin K, Körner M, Zirn L, Wittwer-Backofen U, Oni T, Kroeger A. Exploring urban health in Cape Town, South Africa: an interdisciplinary analysis of secondary data. Pathog Glob Health 2017; 111:7-22. [PMID: 28093045 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2016.1275463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With modern information technology, an overwhelming amount of data is available on different aspects of societies. Our research investigated the feasibility of using secondary data sources to get an overview of determinants of health and health outcomes in different population strata of Cape Town, a large city of South Africa. METHODS The methodological approach of secondary-data analysis was similar in the different disciplines: Biological Anthropology, Public Health, Environmental Health, Mental Health, Palliative Care, Medical Psychology and Sociology at the University of Freiburg and Public Health at the University of Cape Town. The teams collected information on Cape Town through Internet searches and published articles. The information was extracted, analyzed, condensed, and jointly interpreted. RESULTS Data show the typical picture of a population in epidemiological and demographic transition exposed to often difficult social, mental, and physical environmental conditions. Comparison between low and higher socioeconomic districts demonstrated that the former had higher air pollution, poorer water quality, and deficient sanitary conditions in addition to sub-optimal mental health services and palliative care. CONCLUSION Although important information gaps were identified, the data draw attention to critical public health interventions required in poor health districts, and to motivate for pro-equity policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka Mumm
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,b Faculty of Medicine, Biological Anthropology , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Sonia Diaz-Monsalve
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Eva Hänselmann
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,c Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Johanna Freund
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,c Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Michael Wirsching
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,c Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Jan Gärtner
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,d Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Palliative Care , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Richard Gminski
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,e Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Hygiene , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Katrin Vögtlin
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,e Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Hygiene , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Mirjam Körner
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,f Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sociology and Psychology , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Lena Zirn
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,f Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sociology and Psychology , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Ursula Wittwer-Backofen
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.,b Faculty of Medicine, Biological Anthropology , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
| | - Tolu Oni
- g Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - Axel Kroeger
- a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany
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Patient reported outcome measures of quality of end-of-life care: A systematic review. Maturitas 2016; 96:16-25. [PMID: 28041590 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
End-of-life (EoL) care1 is increasingly used as a generic term in preference to palliative care or terminal care, particularly with reference to individuals with chronic disease, who are resident in community and long-term care (LTC) settings. This review evaluates studies based on patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) of quality of EoL care across all health-care settings. From 1041 citations, 12 studies were extracted by searches conducted in EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, Open Grey and Google Scholar databases. At present, the evidence base for EoL care is founded on cancer care. This review highlights the paucity of studies that evaluate quality of EoL care for patients with chronic disease outside the established cancer-acute care paradigm, particularly in LTC. This review highlights the absence of any PROMs for the estimated 60% of patients in LTC with cognitive impairment. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are critical to understanding how EoL care services and practices affect patients' health and EoL experience. PROMs describe the quality of care from the patient's perspective and add balance to existing clinical or proxy-derived knowledge on the quality of care and services provided.
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Suitability of quality-of-life outcome measures in palliative care in the South African setting. Palliat Support Care 2015; 14:118-28. [PMID: 25800035 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951515000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional, subjective, and highly individual phenomenon. The current study speaks to the QoL domains identified by palliative patients living in Africa. The need to identify these domains has been recognized but seemed to still be lacking. This study filled this knowledge gap by providing the domains and by giving directions in terms of the assessment of QoL in palliative patients living in resource-restricted communities in South Africa. METHOD We followed a multi-method approach and conducted a literature review to identify and describe the multidimensional QoL instruments used in African palliative care. A secondary analysis design and open-coding method was employed to identify the domains influencing the QoL of palliative patients living in a resource-restricted South African community, after which we compared these domains to the domains assessed by the identified QoL instruments. RESULTS We found that two multidimensional QoL of life instruments-the Missoula-Vitas Quality of Life Index (MVQoLI) and the Functional Assessments of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal)-have been used in African palliative care and have identified various domains, grouped as four themes: physical concerns, psychosocial issues, financial restraints, and existential issues. The patient-identified QoL domains were to a great extent not assessed by the MVQoLI and FACIT-Pal. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Our study highlights the complexity of QoL and QoL assessment. A more accurate representation of the QoL of palliative patients living in resource-restricted communities might be obtained by using individualized measures or exploring what QoL means to these patients and selecting QoL instruments accordingly.
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Assessment of spiritual suffering in the cancer context: A systematic literature review. Palliat Support Care 2014; 13:1335-61. [PMID: 25386699 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951514001217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An important goal of cancer medicine is relief of patients' suffering. In view of the clinical challenges of identifying suffering patients, we sought to identify valid instruments for assessing the spiritual suffering of people diagnosed with cancer. METHOD A systematic review of the literature was conducted in the Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases seeking assessment instruments that measure either suffering or one of its synonyms or symptoms. The psychometric properties of the identified measures were compared. RESULTS A total of 90 articles were identified that supplied information about 58 measures. The constructs examined were: suffering, hopelessness/demoralization, hope, meaning, spiritual well-being, quality of life where a spiritual/existential dimension was included, distress in the palliative care setting and pain, distress or struggle of a spiritual nature. The Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) (patient completed) was the most promising measure identified for measuring the burden of suffering caused by illness due to its ease of use and the inclusion of a subjective component. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Although the appropriateness of any measure for the assessment of spiritual suffering in cancer patients will depend on the context in which it is intended to be utilized, the PRISM is promising for measuring the burden of suffering due to illness.
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Siegert R, Selman L, Higginson IJ, Ali Z, Powell RA, Namisango E, Mwangi-Powell F, Gwyther L, Gikaara N, Harding R. A psychometric evaluation of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-palliative care (FACIT-Pal) scale with palliative care samples in three African countries. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014; 48:983-91. [PMID: 24742786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Revised: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Although sub-Saharan Africa suffers the greatest burden of progressive illness, there are few outcome measures with adequate properties to measure needs and outcomes. OBJECTIVES To examine the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal) among people receiving palliative care in three African countries. METHODS Adult patients in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda gave self-reported data to the core FACIT-G plus Pal subscale. Data were subjected to factor analysis, corrected item-total correlations, and Cronbach's α for full scale and subscales. RESULTS The resulting four factors bear a strong similarity to the original Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General in our sample of 461: physical symptoms, functional well-being, friends and family, and emotional well-being. Cronbach's α for the full 27-item scale was 0.90 and for the physical well-being, social/family well-being, emotional well-being, and functional well-being subscales, it was 0.83, 0.78, 0.80, and 0.87, respectively. Varimax rotation of the 19-item FACIT-Pal scale showed three clear interpretable factors. Factor 1, a sense of purpose and meaning in life; Factor 2, physical symptoms; and Factor 3, social integration. For the 19-item FACIT-Pal, Cronbach's α was 0.81, and individual corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.24 to 0.61. Cronbach's α for the eight items comprising Factor 1 (meaning in life) was 0.83. For the other two factors, it was 0.70 (physical symptoms, six items) and 0.68 (social integration, three items). CONCLUSION The FACIT-Pal is a reliable multidimensional scale for people with life-limiting incurable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, and the observed factors are interpretable and clinically meaningful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Siegert
- Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lucy Selman
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene J Higginson
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zippy Ali
- Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Liz Gwyther
- Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; The School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nancy Gikaara
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richard Harding
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, United Kingdom.
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Desrosiers T, Cupido C, Pitout E, van Niekerk L, Badri M, Gwyther L, Harding R. A hospital-based palliative care service for patients with advanced organ failure in sub-Saharan Africa reduces admissions and increases home death rates. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014; 47:786-92. [PMID: 23969328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite emerging data of cost savings under palliative care in various regions, no such data have been generated in response to the high burden of terminal illness in Africa. OBJECTIVES This evaluation of a novel hospital-based palliative care service for patients with advanced organ failure in urban South Africa aimed to determine whether the service reduces admissions and increases home death rates compared with the same fixed time period of standard hospital care. METHODS Data on admissions and place of death were extracted from routine hospital activity records for a fixed period before death, using standard patient daily expense rates. Data from the first 56 consecutive deaths under the new service (intervention group) were compared with 48 consecutive deaths among patients immediately before the new service (historical controls). RESULTS Among the intervention and control patients, 40 of 56 (71.4%) and 47 of 48 (97.9%), respectively, had at least one admission (P < 0.001). The mean number of admissions for the intervention and control groups was 1.39 and 1.98, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean total number of days spent admitted for intervention and control groups was 4.52 and 9.3 days, respectively (P < 0.001). For the intervention and control patients, a total of 253 and 447 admission days were recorded, respectively, with formal costs of $587 and $1209, respectively. For the intervention and control groups, home death was achieved by 33 of 56 (58.9%) and nine of 48 (18.8%), respectively (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that an outpatient hospital-based service reduced admissions and improved the rate of home deaths and offers a feasible and cost-effective model for such settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Desrosiers
- Victoria Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Clint Cupido
- Victoria Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Lindi van Niekerk
- Victoria Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Liz Gwyther
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Harding
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, London, United Kingdom.
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14
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Graham N, Gwyther L, Tiso T, Harding R. Traditional healers' views of the required processes for a "good death" among Xhosa patients pre- and post-death. J Pain Symptom Manage 2013; 46:386-94. [PMID: 23149082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT South Africa faces enormous HIV-related mortality and increasing cancer incidence. Traditional healers are the preferred source of advice and care in Africa, and this is true for the large Xhosa ethnic group. OBJECTIVES To provide more appropriate multidimensional, culturally suitable care at the end of life; this study aimed to identify the care needs and cultural practices of Xhosa patients and families at the end of life, from the perspective of traditional healers. METHODS The study design was qualitative and cross-sectional. The research took place in a 300 km radius around East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Interviewees were Xhosa individuals who were recognized by their communities as traditional healers. Data from two focus groups and eight individual interviews were analyzed, using an inductive thematic approach. RESULTS Data were elicited around the facilitation of a good death in terms of care needs before death and important rituals after death. Care needs before death focused on relief of psychosocial suffering; the importance of the spoken word at the deathbed; and the importance of a relationship and spiritual connection at the end of life. There were broad similarities across the rituals described after death, but these rituals were recognized to differ according to family customs or the dying person's wishes. CONCLUSION Awareness of potential needs at the end of life can assist clinicians to understand the choices of their patients and develop effective end-of-life care plans that improve the outcomes for patients and families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Graham
- Palliative Care Programme, Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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15
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Current World Literature. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2012; 6:543-52. [DOI: 10.1097/spc.0b013e32835ad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Current World Literature. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2012; 6:402-16. [DOI: 10.1097/spc.0b013e3283573126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Selman L, Siegert RJ, Higginson IJ, Agupio G, Dinat N, Downing J, Gwyther L, Mashao T, Mmoledi K, Moll T, Sebuyira LM, Ikin B, Harding R. The “Spirit 8” successfully captured spiritual well-being in African palliative care: factor and Rasch analysis. J Clin Epidemiol 2012; 65:434-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2011.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Revised: 08/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Selman LE, Higginson IJ, Agupio G, Dinat N, Downing J, Gwyther L, Mashao T, Mmoledi K, Moll T, Sebuyira LM, Ikin B, Harding R. Quality of life among patients receiving palliative care in South Africa and Uganda: a multi-centred study. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2011; 9:21. [PMID: 21477274 PMCID: PMC3094195 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-9-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Accepted: 04/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality of life (QOL) is a core outcome of palliative care, yet in African settings there is a lack of evidence on patients' levels of QOL. We aimed to describe QOL among patients with incurable, progressive disease receiving palliative care in South Africa and Uganda, to compare QOL in cancer and HIV, to determine how domains of QOL correlate with overall QOL, and compare levels of QOL in this population with those in other studies using the same tool. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI), a 26-item QOL questionnaire with five subscales (Function, Symptom, Interpersonal, Well being, Transcendent) covering physical, social, psychological and spiritual domains and one global QOL item. One item in each subscale assesses the subjective importance of the domain on a score from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important), used to weight the contribution of the subscale towards the Total QOL score. The tool was translated into 6 languages and administered to consecutively recruited patients at four facilities in South Africa and one in Uganda. RESULTS 285 patients were recruited, with a mean age of 40.1; 197 (69.1%) were female. Patients' primary diagnoses were HIV (80.7%), cancer (17.9%) and other conditions (1.4%). The mean global QOL score was 2.81 (possible range 0 (worst) to 5 (best)); mean Total score 17.32 (possible range 0 to 30). Patients scored most poorly on Function (mean 0.21), followed by Well being (2.59), Symptoms (5.38), Transcendent (5.50), Interpersonal (9.53) (possible range for subscale scores -30 to 30). Most important to patients were: close relationships (mean 4.13), feeling at peace (4.12), sense of meaning in life (4.10), being active (3.84), physical comfort (2.58). Cancer patients were predominantly recruited at three of the sites; hence comparison with HIV-infected patients was restricted to these sites. HIV+ patients (n = 115) scored significantly worse than cancer patients (n = 50) on Well being (Z = -2.778, p = 0.005), Transcendence (Z = -2.693, p = 0.007) and Total QOL (Z = -2.564, p = 0.01). Global QOL score was most weakly correlated with Total QOL (r = 0.37) and the Transcendent subscale was most highly correlated (r = 0.77) (both p < 0.001). Patients receiving palliative care in South Africa and Uganda exhibited significantly poorer QOL compared to similar populations in the USA. CONCLUSIONS Feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or physical comfort, and spiritual wellbeing correlated most highly with overall QOL. It is therefore vital to identify and meet the psychological and spiritual care needs of patients, as well as to assess and treat pain and other symptoms. Our finding that patients scored most poorly on the Function domain warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E Selman
- King's College London, Dept. Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, Bessemer Road, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9PJ, UK
| | - Irene J Higginson
- King's College London, Dept. Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, Bessemer Road, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9PJ, UK
| | - Godfrey Agupio
- Hospice Africa Uganda, PO Box 7757, Makindye, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Natalya Dinat
- The Division of Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Theatre Road, The Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, South Africa
| | - Julia Downing
- Formerly of the African Palliative Care Association, PO Box 72518, Plot 850, Dr Gibbons Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Liz Gwyther
- Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, PO Box 38785, Howard Place, 7450 Suite 11a, Lonsdale Building, Lonsdale Way, Pinelands, 7430, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thandi Mashao
- Palliative Medicine Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Keletso Mmoledi
- The Division of Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Theatre Road, The Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, South Africa
| | - Tony Moll
- Church of Scotland Hospital, P/Bag X502, Tugela Ferry 3010, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Lydia Mpanga Sebuyira
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University, PO Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Barbara Ikin
- Msunduzi Hospice, Head Office, PO Box 22023, Mayors Walk 3208, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Richard Harding
- King's College London, Dept. Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, Bessemer Road, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9PJ, UK
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