Public preferences and priorities for end-of-life care in Kenya: a population-based street survey

BMC Palliative Care

Research Article

Barbara Gomes¹  Richard Harding¹  Barbara A Daveson¹  Irene J Higginson¹  Faith N Mwangi-Powell²  Grace Munene²  Richard A Powell²  Nancy Gikaara³  Julia Downing⁴ 

[1] Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, UK;Formerly African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda;Formerly African Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya;Makerere University, PO Box 72518, Kampala, Uganda;Formerly African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda;

关键词: Public health;    Hospices;    Palliative care;    Attitude to death;    Public opinion;    Africa;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-684X-13-4

 received in 2013-08-18, accepted in 2014-02-12,  发布年份 2014

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEnd-of-life care needs are great in Africa due to the burden of disease. This study aimed to explore public preferences and priorities for end-of-life care in Nairobi, Kenya.MethodsPopulation-based street survey of Kenyans aged ≥18; researchers approached every 10th person, alternating men and women. Structured interviews investigated quality vs. quantity of life, care priorities, preferences for information, decision-making, place of death (most and least favourite) and focus of care in a hypothetical scenario of serious illness with <1 year to live. Descriptive analysis examined variations.Results201 individuals were interviewed (100 women) representing 17 tribes (n = 90 44.8%, Kikuyu). 56.7% (n = 114) said they would always like to be told if they had limited time left. The majority (n = 121, 61.4%) preferred quality of life over quantity i.e. extending life (n = 47, 23.9%). Keeping a positive attitude and ensuring relatives/friends were not worried were prioritised above having pain/discomfort relieved. The three most concerning problems were pain (45.8%), family burden (34.8%) and personal psychological distress (29.8%). Home was both the most (51.1% n = 98) and least (23.7% n = 44) preferred place of death.ConclusionThis first population-based survey on preferences and priorities for end-of-life care in Africa revealed that psycho-social domains were of greatest importance to the public, but also identified variations that require further exploration. If citizens’ preferences and priorities are to be met, the development of end-of-life care services to deliver preferences in Kenya should ensure an holistic model of palliative care responsive to individual preferences across care settings including at home.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Downing et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014