The beginnings of children's palliative care in Africa: evaluation of a children's palliative care service in Africa

Journal of Palliative Medicine
Justin M AmeryCharles Byarugaba

Abstract

To evaluate a children's palliative care service designed specifically for a resource-poor sub-Saharan African setting. The study used mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology: quantitative retrospective, comparative survey and cross-sectional, noninterventional interview survey. Evaluation showed increases in referrals, proportion of children on program, morphine and chemotherapy prescriptions, and improved compliance for a cost of $100 per child. The most valued service strengths were free drugs, food, play, learning, and staff attitude. Weaknesses included insufficiency of strengths listed above, as well as poor hospital staff attitude, lack of school fees and poor treatment compliance rates. Suggestions included more of the strengths as well as more accessible service locations. The study suggests affordable, nurse-led, volunteer-supported children's palliative care services are both achievable and effective in sub-Saharan African. The study suggests that palliative care units should provide a specialized service focused on children. Such a service would clearly identify children in need of children's palliative care and should provide medication for symptom control; food and basic needs support; play and learning fac...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 26, 2010·Seminars in Oncology Nursing·Terrah L FosterPamela S Hinds
Feb 20, 2013·BMC Palliative Care·Julia D DowningLaura Ross-Gakava
Nov 28, 2017·BMC Palliative Care·Hatoko SasakiRintaro Mori
Feb 15, 2011·The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care·Christiane SchaepeIngrid Bolmsjö
Mar 2, 2016·International Journal of Palliative Nursing·Rowan HillisMaria Brenner
Sep 16, 2015·Archives of Disease in Childhood·Julia DowningRichard Harding
Nov 12, 2013·Pediatric Blood & Cancer·Mariana KrugerPeter Hesseling
Dec 22, 2020·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Erica C KayeUNKNOWN AAHPM Research Committee
Jan 7, 2018·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Maryellen PottsSuparna Qanungo

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