Palliative Care Needs of People Living in a Newly Established Informal Settlement

Abstract

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 role of community health workers in palliative care in a rural subdistrict in South Africa

“…7 Other common physical symptoms included weakness, fatigue, cough and weight loss. 7 Psychosocial distress was frequent, with 85.4% of participants requesting emotional support and 50% financial assistance. 7 In 2017, palliative care delivery in SA was regarded as only being at a preliminary stage of integration into mainstream healthcare services.…”

“…7 Psychosocial distress was frequent, with 85.4% of participants requesting emotional support and 50% financial assistance. 7 In 2017, palliative care delivery in SA was regarded as only being at a preliminary stage of integration into mainstream healthcare services. 8 In the same year, SA made meaningful progress Background: Effective palliative care is an urgent humanitarian need, particularly in less developed countries, including South Africa (SA).…”

“… 5 , 6 A more recent study investigating the palliative care needs of people living in an informal settlement in Tshwane, SA, likewise found pain to be the most prevalent symptom, with 89.6% of participants in need of pain relief. 7 Other common physical symptoms included weakness, fatigue, cough and weight loss. 7 Psychosocial distress was frequent, with 85.4% of participants requesting emotional support and 50% financial assistance.…”

“… 7 Other common physical symptoms included weakness, fatigue, cough and weight loss. 7 Psychosocial distress was frequent, with 85.4% of participants requesting emotional support and 50% financial assistance. 7 …”

Palliative care after stroke: A review

“…Western African low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have little established palliative care activity, because of resource limitations and lack of political, organizational, or interprofessional collaboration. 40 Pain control was identified in one study 41 as the main unmet palliative care need, and in South Africa, physical, emotional, and social dysfunctions were major concerns for stroke survivors. 42 In Nigeria, informal stroke caregivers reported dissatisfaction with infrastructure, waiting times, and information quality; 43 and stroke survivors’ preferences for rehabilitation settings were influenced by age and finances.…”