Perceptions of terminally ill patients concerning the palliative care they receive in rural primary health care

Abstract

Background: Terminal illness is an incurable medical condition that cannot be completely treated and is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a certain period of time. The term is used more for progressive diseases; it will therefore include all the efforts aimed at providing a better quality of the remaining life of a terminally ill patient. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess perceptions of patients regarding the quality of palliative care that they were receiving in the Ventersdorp subdistrict. Setting: This study was conducted in the Ventersdorp subdistrict, with patients interviewed at their home, hospital, Health centre and some at old age home. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional approach was used, including record reviews and an administered questionnaire; Records of patients who were already referred to oncology unit at our tertiary hospital from Ventersdorp were also accessed and patients traced for interviews. Descriptive statistical methods were used, and the Fischer-Exact test was done for associations. Results: Forty patients were interviewed on the following domain, daily activities, physical symptoms, autonomy, social issues, psychological issues, spiritual issues, financial problems and need for information. For the study as a whole the listed activities (domains) were reported to be problematic in 1074 (81.0%) of the 1326 responses that were recorded. The need for professional attention was expressed in 988 (92.0%) out of the 1074 responses where problems existed. Conclusion: Based on these results terminally ill patients notably expressed need for help regarding their condition in the Ventersdorp subdistrict. Low education level, poor socio-economic conditions of participants contribute to dissatisfaction with quality of services they receive. We are failing patients in rural areas if they do not receive good palliative care. As a manager of resources, the task of establishing community programs is on the shoulders of family physicians