B141
Hospice care in Nigeria, preliminary experience at the University College Hospital, Ibadan
Omolara Fagbenle, Atara Ntekim
University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
Background
Hospice care is lacking in Nigeria health system despite the fact that there are lot of patients with advanced cancer that needs hospice care. This necessitated the establishment of the first Hospice and palliative care centre in Nigeria which is based in University college Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Pain and suffering experienced by these patients and families has been of great concern to health care providers internationally, hence the need for hospice care.
Aim
The study was aimed at accessing the initial challenges encountered by the palliative care team members.
Method
Questionnaires were administered to the group of health professionals involved in the care of patients with advanced cancer.
Results
A total of 50 professionals were incorporated into the palliative care team. Within one month of commencement in 2008, thirty patients were seen, and out of these patients eight (26.7%) that were to be visited at home were unwilling to accept home based care while 22(73.3%) live more than 500 kilometre from the centre. Thirty-four (68.0%) of the professionals have no knowledge of palliative care. Hence, they did not appreciate the need for end of life care in the terminally ill patients.
This study identified the challenges encountered in palliative care services, in order to improve the quality of patients life. It will also guide those who need to start palliative care in other low resource settings.
Conclusion
Unwillingness of the patients to accept home care, distance to centre, and lack of knowledge by some of the professionals are reasons why end- of life care is not effective. Increase in professional training locally or regionally and creation of more centres will help achieve a sustainable hospice care. Counselling and a strong professional patient relationship can give hope to the patients thereby making them accept home based care.
