Publication
Integrating palliative care into the care of paediatric patients at a referral hospital in ghana
Paintsil V, Ossei-Sekyere B, Osei-Tutu L, Asiamah C · Pediatric Blood and Cancer · 2018
Background/Objectives: Caring for children with life threatening diseases can be difficult and also it could be compounded by insufficient training and competence in symptom management and communication skills by staff members. This affects the quality of care delivered to these patients. The objectives of this study was to determine if services delivered to patients with life threatening diseases could be improved by educating the healthcare providers. Design/Methods: Twenty five doctors and nurses were selected from all the subspecialty wards of the Child Health Directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital-Kumasi. Personnel selected were taken through a 2 day workshop in palliative care. They were educated on communication skills, pain assessment methods and management, symptom control, psychological support and ethical considerations in palliative care among others. Personnel were then divided into 4 groups with a group on each of the paediatric wards to help integrate palliative care services on the wards. Results: About 90% of the healthcare personnel at the cancer ward who were part of the workshop attested to an improved knowledge about palliative care issues after the workshop. They were able to grade pain correctly and give analgesics appropriately to relieve pain. Symptom control for patients became better and healthcare workers became better at the psychosocial support. The different wards selected focal persons who supported patients who needed palliative care. This LED to an improved care for patient with life threatening diseases. One healthcare worker who developed an interest in Palliative care later took up a fellowship programme afterwards, Conclusions: In a Low Middle Income Country setting where formal paediatric palliative care programmes are non-existent, informal education of healthcare personnel can lead to an improved palliative care delivery for children. Those personnel educated can also train the other members on the ward to deliver palliative care.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.