scholarly journals Factors Influencing Palliative Care Utilization Among Patients With Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minenhle S. Dlamini ◽  
Khumbulani W. Hlongwana ◽  
Siyabonga B. Dlamini ◽  
Themba G. Ginindza

Abstract Background: Cancer remains a public health challenge in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Over 30% of those in need of palliative care (PC) worldwide suffer from cancer and 80% of patients with cancer in LMICs are diagnosed at advanced stages, by which time they can only benefit from PC services. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing PC utilization among patients with cancer in KZN.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used among patients who had been diagnosed with different cancers and attending Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), Addington Hospital, Pietermaritzburg Grey’s hospital, Msunduzi and Chatsworth Hospices. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants. Structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 394 patients. The questionnaire included two open-ended questions and the generated data was analysed and presented into two formats; firstly, the textual data was entered into REDcap (v.8.11.7) and then exported to IBM SPSS Statistics (v.25) and recoded for emerging themes which were later presented in a graph format. Secondly, the thematic analysis was presented in textual format and supported with verbatims quotes. Results: The mean (+SD) age of the 394 participants was 51.89 (+14.67) years and about 22.9% were within the age-group 41–50 years. Majority of participants were females (77.7%) and were unmarried (60.6%). Most of the participants’ racial classification was black (81.5%) and 64.5% had primary education. More than four-fifths (82.7%) were unemployed, 55.8% lived in urban areas and 24.6% had cervical cancer. The analysis of the two open-ended questions incorporated into the questionnaire revealed five themes as major barriers preventing cancer patients from seeking PC services.Conclusion: Lack of knowledge and awareness about cancer symptoms and PC services could be addressed by better education of the public. Hence, utilization of PC could be maximized, thereby providing a better quality of life for the sufferers and their families until the end of life’s journey. The study also provides information that can be used to strengthen and/or to develop PC guidelines addressing PC issues. Keywords: Cancer, Palliative care, barriers, utilization, KwaZulu-Natal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minenhle S. Dlamini ◽  
Khumbulani W. Hlongwana ◽  
Siyabonga B. Dlamini ◽  
Themba G. Ginindza

Abstract Background: Cancer remains a public health challenge in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Over 30% of those in need of palliative care (PC) worldwide suffer from cancer and 80% of patients with cancer in LMICs are diagnosed at advanced stages, by which time they can only benefit from PC services. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing PC utilisation among patients with cancer in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Methods: A study was conducted among patients who had been diagnosed with different cancers and attending Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Addington Hospital, Pietermaritzburg Grey’s hospital, Msunduzi Hospice and Chatsworth Hospice, using cross-sectional mixed methods. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 394 patients with cancer. The questionnaire included two open-ended questions and 59 closed-ended questions. Data from open-ended questions were manually coded and converted into themes, while the closed ended-questions were entered into the REDCap (v.8.11.7) and exported to Stata for analysis. Results: The mean (+SD) age of the 394 participants was 51.89 (+14.67) years and about 22.9% were within the 41–50 years age-group. The majority of participants were females (77.7%) and were unmarried (60.6%). Most of the participants’ racial classification was black (81.5%) and 64.5% had primary education. More than four-fifths (82.7%) were unemployed, 55.8% lived in urban areas and 24.6% had cervical cancer. The analysis of the two open-ended questions incorporated into the questionnaire revealed five major barriers preventing cancer patients from seeking PC services. These themes included lack of cancer knowledge, pursuit of alternative treatment options and long waiting periods at healthcare institutions. In addition, stigma and discrimination, lack of screening and diagnostic equipment and socio-economic barriers, contributed to the underutilisation of PC services by patients with cancer. Participants recommended that cancer awareness campaigns, healthcare services and continuous professional development (CPD) be improved.Conclusion: Cancer patients in low-to middle-income countries, such as South Africa, are still facing barriers to pursuing PC. Better education of the public could contribute to increased knowledge and awareness on cancer and PC services. Utilisation of PC could be maximised, thereby providing a better quality of life for the sufferers and their families until the end of life’s journey. The study also provides information that can be used to strengthen and/or to develop PC guidelines for addressing PC issues.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdel Rahman Aref Ali Abu Shreea ◽  
Lee Khuan ◽  
Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail ◽  
Nasrudin Subhi ◽  
Sobuh (Moh’d Sobhi) Ahmad Abu-Shanab ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionCancer is now being recognised as a long term conditions due to advances in treatments that increase the survival rate of patients with cancer to as long as 10 years from the time of the disease. Anxiety is among the commonly discovered psychiatric illness in patients with cancer and is often neglected. Approximately 10% of patients with cancer are affected with anxiety worldwide. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorder and its associated factors among workers with cancer in Jordanian population.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Husain Cancer Centre (KHCC) in Amman, Jordan. Proportional sampling technique was used to obtain the sample population of 355 workers with cancer. Data were collected through self-administered Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire and analyses were carried out using SPSS version 25.ResultsResponse rate of 100% were obtained from the participants. Prevalence of anxiety disorder among workers with cancer was recorded at 20.8% with male (23.1%) having the higher prevalence rate than female (17.3%) workers with cancers. A significant difference in anxiety between marital status (p=0.025), types of cancer (p=0.001), treatment types (p=0.024) were observed. A multiple regression was run to predict anxiety disorder from marital status, type of cancer and treatment types. These variables statistically significantly predicted anxiety disorder [F(3, 351) = 8.117, p < .001, R2 = 0.225].ConclusionThere is high prevalent of anxiety disorder among workers with cancer in Jordan. Predictors of anxiety among workers with cancer were also identified in this report.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adedayo O. Sabageh ◽  
Adesegun O. Fatusi ◽  
Donatus Sabageh ◽  
Joel A. Aluko

Abstract Objectives: The sexual and reproductive health of adolescents is of utmost importance in many nations (especially in developing countries). Sexual behavior varies from location to location and the outcome (when negative) creates great concerns mainly due to the consequential impact on health and development. This study aimed at comparing sexual behavior of in-school adolescents in rural and urban areas of Osun state. Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted. A total of 760 in-school adolescents were recruited using multistage sampling technique. Pre-tested questionnaires were administered after ethical considerations. Data were analysed and p-value was placed at 0.05. Results: A total of 380 rural and 380 urban adolescents participated in this study with a mean age of 14.90±2.44 and 14.34±2.31 years, respectively. About one-fifth (20.1%) had experienced their first sex (66% of rural and 34% of urban). The mean age at first sex was 14.05 years±2.3 years (13.89±2.3 years for rural and 14.37±2.3 years for urban). Only 76 (49.7%) sexually experienced respondents had used condom in the past (45.5% of rural, 57.7% of urban). Half of the urban respondents used condom during their first sex while only a quarter of their rural counterparts had done so (p=0.003). Conclusion: Sexual behavior was commoner among the rural respondents than their urban counterpart. There is an urgent need for sexuality education especially among rural adolescents in the study area.


Author(s):  
Sivakumar C. P. ◽  
Jose Joseph ◽  
Manjula V. D.

Background: Overweight and obesity during childhood is a matter of growing concern among many low and middle income countries. Obesity in the developing world can be seen as a result of a series of changes in diet, physical activity health and nutrition. This is collectively known as ‘nutrition transition.Methods: The present study was conducted in an urban area of Kottayam district in Kerala. The schools were stratified into government, aided and unaided categories. Cluster sampling technique was used and data was collected after informed consent.Results: Obesity and overweight were found to be higher in children who consume butter/ghee, fried local foods, red meat/chicken and pizza/burgers frequently. The factors related to eating behaviour include time for finishing meals, parent force to eat, skipping of breakfast, family eats out and consumption of fast food.Conclusions: Nutritional transition has contributed to the problem of adolescent obesity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Md Faruq Alam ◽  
Mekhala Sarkar ◽  
Mohammad Tariqul Alam ◽  
Helal Uddin Ahmed ◽  
Avra Das Bhowmik ◽  
...  

The prevalence of substance use is on rising trend in the country. This two-stage nationwide multicentric community based cross sectional study was conducted by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Dhaka during the period of September 2017 to July 2018 to determine the prevalence of substance use as well as to identify the proportion of users used different substances and to find out socio-demographic correlates of substance use in Bangladesh. The sample were collected by cluster sampling technique. In the first stage data were collected from 19692 respondents aged between 7 years and above in 140 clusters through face-to-face interview using semi-structured questionnaires to collect information by trained data collector. Diagnoses of substance use were made in the second stage of interview by research psychiatrists following DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of mental disorders. Descriptive and inferential statistics of the collected data was done using standard statistical parameters. SPSS programme (Version 23) was used to summarize and to analyze the data. The results showed that, the prevalence of substance use was found as 3.3% among the population 18 years and above. Prevalence of substance use was 4.8% in male and 0.6% in female. Most frequently used substances include cannabis in (42.7%), alcohol in 27.5%, amphetamine (yaba) in 15.2%, opioid in 5.3% and sleeping pills in 3.4% users. Among professions of substance users 6.7% were labors, 5.7% unemployed, 4.3% business men, 3.8% farmers and 3.5% service holders. Extremes of social classes were found as increased users of substances such as people with low income 3.2% and people with high income 3.8% using as against 2.6% in middle income group. The data of this community survey will be used for planning of mental health services in Bangladesh. Bang J Psychiatry June 2018; 32(1): 1-8


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254517
Author(s):  
Ving Fai Chan ◽  
Ai Chee Yong ◽  
Ciaran O’Neill ◽  
Christine Graham ◽  
Nathan Congdon ◽  
...  

Background This study aims to understand the key factors influencing guardians’ decisions when purchasing spectacles for their children in semi-urban and urban areas of Cross River State, Nigeria, where a spectacle cross-subsidisation scheme will be implemented. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among all consecutive guardians visiting the Calabar (urban), Ugep, Ikom and Ogoja (semi-urban) public eye clinics in Cross River State, southern Nigeria, from August 1 to October 31 2019, and whose children had significant refractive errors (myopia ≤-0.50D, hyperopia ≥1.50D, astigmatism >0.75D) and received spectacles. Guardians were interviewed using a questionnaire which included i) close-ended questions on reasons guardians choose to purchase spectacles for their children in eye clinics, ii) guardians’ perceptions of the quality and design of children’s current spectacle, iii) factors most heavily influencing their choice of spectacles for children, and iv) open-ended questions to seek guardians’ suggestions on how to improve the current spectacle range. Results All 137 eligible guardians (67.2% women [n = 92]) who visited the selected eye clinics participated in the study (response rate = 100%), with 109 (79.6%) from semi-urban and 28 (20.4%) attending urban clinics. Guardians from both urban and semi-urban clinics prioritised frame design, quality, and material as the main factors affecting their decision when purchasing spectacles for their children. Female guardians and those with higher incomes were both 1.5 times more likely to emphasise frame quality when describing selection criteria for purchasing spectacles for their children than male guardians (p = 0.01) or guardians earning less (p = 0.03). Conclusion Design, material, and frame quality are key factors influencing guardians when purchasing spectacles for their children in these setting and female guardians or those with higher income prioritise frame quality. This study could guide the planning and implementation of a novel cross-subsidisation scheme in Cross River State.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Marzà-Florensa ◽  
Daniel Boateng ◽  
Charles Agyemang ◽  
Erik Beune ◽  
Karlijn A. C. Meeks ◽  
...  

Objectives: Multimorbidity is a growing public health concern due to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, yet information about multimorbidity in low- and middle-income countries and migrant populations is scarce. We aimed to investigate the distribution and patterns of multimorbidity in rural and urban areas in Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Europe.Methods: The RODAM cross-sectional study included 4,833 participants. Multimorbidity was defined as presence of multiple non-communicable chronic conditions. Patterns were determined from frequent combination of conditions. Prevalence ratios were estimated by logistic regression.Results: Prevalence of multimorbidity was higher in women and in urban Ghana and Europe. We observed a cardiometabolic pattern in all sites as well as circulatory-musculoskeletal and metabolic-musculoskeletal combinations in Ghana. Multimorbidity prevalence ratios were higher in Europe (men 1.47, 95% CI 1.34–1.59, women 1.18, 1.10–1.26) and urban Ghana (men 1.46, 1.31–1.59, women 1.27, 1.19–1.34).Conclusion: Distribution and patterns of multimorbidity differed by sex and site. With a higher burden of multimorbidity in urban areas, prevention strategies should focus on forestalling its increase in rapidly growing rural areas.


1970 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gias Uddin ◽  
Md Mizanur Rahman ◽  
Syed Md Akram Hussain

Tobacco consumption is harmful to health, and is one of the main causes of death in worldwide. It is evident that the prevalence of tobacco consumption is raising in most of low and middle income countries. Considering this, a cross sectional study was conducted in a selected urban area of southern Bangladesh with a view to assessing the prevalence of tobacco consumption and factors affecting the use of tobacco use. Multistage cluster sampling technique was adopted to select the urban ward and the respondents were selected systematically. A total of 399 respondents were interviewed face to face using a semi-structured interview schedule. Analysis shows that 30% of the population of aged 18 years above were currently using tobacco of any form. The mean age of starting tobacco use was 18.8 years. The most frequent form of tobacco use was smoking cigarette followed by Zarda with betal quid. Multivariate analysis revealed that illiterate respondents were 3.3 times more tobacco users than their educated counterparts. It was also higher among the Muslims (OR=4.979; 95% CI=1.255-19.754). Tobacco use was also high among the labourer (OR=8.541; 95% CI=2.422-30.120) and businessmen (OR=7.727, 95% CI=2.501-23.875). However, no statistically significant association was found between current tobacco use and age, sex, housing condition and knowledge on tobacco use (p>0.05). The finding of this study suggests that as tobacco use is more prevalent among the poor and illiterate segment of the population, strong implementation of anti-tobacco legislation is warranted.   DOI: 10.3329/bmj.v38i2.3573 Bangladesh Medical Journal 38(2) 2009 48-52


Author(s):  
Leonard L. Sokol ◽  
Danny Bega ◽  
Chen Yeh ◽  
Benzi M. Kluger ◽  
Hillary D. Lum

Background: People with Huntington’s disease (HD) often become institutionalized and more frequently die away from the home setting. The reasons behind differences in end-of-life care are poorly understood. Less than 5% of people with HD report utilization of palliative care (PC) or hospice services, regardless of the lack of curative therapies for this neurodegenerative disease. It is unknown what factors are associated with in-patient specialty PC consultation in this population and how PC might be related to discharge disposition. Objectives: To determine what HD-specific (e.g., psychosis) and serious illness-specific factors (e.g., resuscitation preferences) are associated with PC encounters in people with HD and explore how PC encounters are associated with discharge disposition. Design: We analyzed factors associated with PC consultation for people with HD using discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. An anonymized, cross-sectional, and stratified sample of 20% of United States hospitalizations from 2007 through 2014 were included using ICD-9 codes. Results: 8521 patients with HD were admitted to the hospital. Of those, 321 (3.8%) received specialty PC. Payer type, (specifically private insurer or other insurer as compared to Medicare), income, (specifically the top quartile as compared to the bottom quartile), mortality risk, D.N.R., aspiration pneumonia, and depression were significantly associated with PC in a multivariate model. Among those who received PC, the odds ratio (OR) of discharge to a facility was 0.43 (95% CI, 0.32-0.58), whereas the OR of discharge to home with services was 2.25 (95% CI 1.57-3.23), even after adjusting for possible confounders. Conclusions: Among patients with HD, economic factors, depression, and serious illness-specific factors were associated with PC, and PC was associated with discharge disposition. These findings have implications for the adaptation of inpatient PC models to meet the needs of persons with HD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2574-2580
Author(s):  
Imran Nazir Ahmad

Objectives: To see the prevalence and outcome of Human brucellosis in Makkah. Study Design: Retrospective Cross Sectional study. Setting: Security Forces Hospital, Makkah. Period: August 2016 to August 2019. Material & Methods: Patient's data was collected for the last 3 years. Simple randomized sampling technique was adopted and data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Univariate comparisons were done by using Chi square test. Results: This study enrolled 241 patients with predominant age group of 15-40 years (41.9%). Incidence rate in Makkah is 4.01 per 100,000 persons per year. Male were predominant (67.2%). About fifty-seven (57.3) % patients belonged to urban areas and the risk of acquisition of brucellosis was the consumption of unpasteurized milk in 138 (57.3%) patients. Most common clinical presentation was fever (95.4%) without a definite focus in 200 patients (83%), Eighty-three (83%) patients had uncomplicated brucellosis. The most common (67.2%) treatment regimen was rifampicin and doxycycline for 6 weeks. Relapse rate was reported 10.8%. Death rate was reported to be 0.9%. Conclusion: Brucellosis still affects health of Saudi population and causes economic burden. It is recommended to keep up the efforts to decrease the brucellosis incidence rate toward zero.


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