Evidence-based guidance for the delivery of palliative care in Africa is rare. Identifying the palliative care needs of this community could contribute evidence to guide the services provided, and could add to the body of knowledge of palliative care in Africa. Using a retrospective chart review research method, the researchers aimed to describe the palliative care needs of people using a nurse-led palliative care service situated in a newly established, underserved, informal settlement in Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa. A quantitative inductive content analysis method was used to analyse the data. The sample realised at 48 (n = 48). The ages of patients ranged from 21 to 78 with the median age 47. Nearly half (45.9%) of the patients were functionally illiterate. The records reflected 85 different medical diagnoses and some patients suffered more than one illness. The most common diagnosis was HIV/AIDS (54.2%). Furthermore, records revealed 379 health problems, ranging from 1 to 17 per patient, with an average of 8.1. Most problems were physical symptoms (50.3%; n = 195), while 38.8 per cent (n = 147) were psychosocial problems and 9.8 per cent (n = 37) were spiritual problems. The need for pain relief (89.6%; n = 43) was the greatest, followed by the need for emotional support. Patients suffering from various medical diagnoses used the services of the palliative care clinic. Patients’ care needs revolved around relief from total pain. Therefore, nurses should become aware of the suffering of palliative patients living in resource-poor communities, and through meticulous assessment, identify their main care needs.
The Cancer burden in Africa is increasing. Nurses play a pivotal role in health care systems and find themselves in a key position to engage with patients, communities and other health professionals to address disparities in cancer care and work towards achieving cancer control in Africa. The rapidly evolving nature of cancer care requires a highly skilled and specialised oncology nurse to either provide clinical care and/or conduct research to improve evidence-based practice. Although Africa has been slow to respond to the need for trained oncology nurses, much has been done over the past few years. This article aims to provide an update of Oncology nursing education and training in Africa with specific focus on South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and Egypt. Mapping oncology nursing education and training in Africa in 2020, the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, provides an opportunity to leverage on the essential roles of the oncology nurse and commit to an agenda that will drive and sustain progress to 2030 and beyond.
Sexuality is an important aspect of quality of life (QOL). QOL after cancer therapy is an important aspect of patient care of which sexual wellbeing forms part of the holistic nursing care although sexuality assessment is recognized as an important part of nursing care, in practice it has been observed that professional nurses may experience some difficulties to this aspect. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the awareness, practice and possible barriers of professional nurses when engaging in conversation about sexuality with patients receiving cancer treatment in a private oncology care setting in Pretoria, South Africa. Objectives: The research objectives were: Ø To explore and describe the awareness and practice of professional nurses to engage in conversation about sexuality with the patient receiving cancer treatment in a private oncology setting in Pretoria. Ø To describe possible barriers that prohibit professional nurses to engage in conversation with patients receiving cancer treatment in a private oncology setting regarding sexuality Ø To make recommendations to improve nursing practice with regard to nursing care related to sexuality in the private oncology care setting. Method: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was followed. A convenient purposive sample consisting of nine participants who met the inclusion criteria participated. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, while Creswell's method of data analysis was applied. Trustworthy measures included credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. This study obtained ethical clearance from all stakeholders. Results: The themes embarrassment, cultural beliefs and values emerged as barriers to engage in conversation about sexuality while, referring to a specialist in the field as suggested support to cancer treated patients arose. Limited knowledge about intensive therapy featured as the last theme. The data revealed that professional nurses themselves had restricted views on sexuality and very often would see the patient's body image and associated sexuality as not their responsibility. The concept intensive therapy was not fully understood which led to limited referral to various specialist. Conclusions: Professional nurses should be sensitized and empowered with the skills and knowledge on how patients' perception of their body image changed when been treated with cancer and the effect thereof. Reflective conversations about this sensitive topic could assist in this regard. Citation Format: Maurel C. Emeagi, Hester Rina De Swardt, Martjie De Villiers. Professional nurses' awareness and practice with sexual concerns of the oncology patient [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5291.
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