Referral of Patients with Nonmalignant Chronic Diseases to Specialist Palliative Care: A Study in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana
Joint Authors
Ofosu-Poku, Rasheed
Owusu-Ansah, Michael
Antwi, John
Source
International Journal of Chronic Diseases
Issue
Vol. 2020, Issue 2020 (31 Dec. 2020), pp.1-11, 11 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2020-03-16
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
11
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Ghana’s chronic disease burden is on the rise.
An essential aspect of clinical care in chronic disease management is to improve the quality of life of both patients and their families and to help them cope with the experience of life-limiting illness.
Specialist palliative care services help reach this objective, especially in the context of complex psychosocial challenges and high symptom burden.
It is, therefore, necessary that as many patients as possible get access to available specialist palliative care services.
This paper explores the factors influencing referral of patients with nonmalignant chronic diseases for specialist palliative care.
A qualitative approach was used to explore these factors from eight (8) participants—four (4) physician specialists and four (4) next of kin of patients with advanced nonmalignant chronic illness.
Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide.
Interviews were audio-recorded and data coded, themes and subthemes were identified, and thematic analysis was done.
Barriers and motivators identified were categorized as either related to physicians, institution, or family.
Barriers to referral were perception of the scope of palliative care, medical paternalism, lack of an institutional referral policy, poor human resource capacity of the palliative care team, and lack of awareness about the existence of specialist palliative care service.
Poor economic status of the patient and family, poor prognosis, previous interaction with the palliative care team, and an appreciation of patients’ expectations of the healthcare system were identified as motivators for referral.
The palliative care team must therefore increase awareness among other health professionals about their services and facilitate the development and availability of a clear policy to guide and improve referrals.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Ofosu-Poku, Rasheed& Owusu-Ansah, Michael& Antwi, John. 2020. Referral of Patients with Nonmalignant Chronic Diseases to Specialist Palliative Care: A Study in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana. International Journal of Chronic Diseases،Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1169328
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Ofosu-Poku, Rasheed…[et al.]. Referral of Patients with Nonmalignant Chronic Diseases to Specialist Palliative Care: A Study in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana. International Journal of Chronic Diseases No. 2020 (2020), pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1169328
American Medical Association (AMA)
Ofosu-Poku, Rasheed& Owusu-Ansah, Michael& Antwi, John. Referral of Patients with Nonmalignant Chronic Diseases to Specialist Palliative Care: A Study in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana. International Journal of Chronic Diseases. 2020. Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1169328
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1169328