Gladys Anyane*, Rasheed Ofosu-Poku, Michael Owusu-Ansah and Alberta Delali Dzaka

Directorate of Family Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

*Corresponding Author: Gladys Anyane*, Directorate of Family Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Received: September 15, 2021; Published: September 22, 2021

Abstract

  The global need for palliative care continues to grow as a result of the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and an ageing population. Each year, an estimated 40 million people are in need of palliative care. The aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of individuals and families who are faced with life-threatening illness, and to offer a support system which helps patients live as actively as possible until death. This study aims at discovering the perspective of patients receiving specialist palliative care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. A qualitative approach with exploratory design was employed. Using purposive sampling, ten (10) participants were recruited and individual face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis done. Two (2) themes and seven (7) subthemes were identified. Patients appreciated being respected as individuals and involved in decision making, as well as the receptiveness of team members, their compassion, and the assistance they offered in achieving good symptom control. They also highlighted the cost-effectiveness of palliative care services, its team approach to care, and the home-visit service it offers. All clinicians must therefore integrate the principles of basic palliative care in their daily practice and advocate referral when needs of patients get complex, to improve their quality of life.

Keywords: Perception of Patient; Palliative Care; Communication; Quality of Life; Cancer

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Citation

Citation: Gladys Anyane., et al. ““Because of Them I will Never Give up”: Perspective of Patients Receiving Specialist Palliative Care in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana".Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 3.10 (2020): 49-55.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2020 Gladys Anyane., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.