Knowledge and attitudes of terminally ill patients and their family to palliative care and hospice services in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

A palliative care and Hospice service is a neglected aspect of medical discipline especially in a developing country like Nigeria. With the global increase in incidence of cancer and HIV/AIDS and 70% of them presenting late, coupled with limited resources, for effective symptom control, palliative care therefore remains the only option left to improve the quality of life of the patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the knowledge and attitudes of patients and their relations to palliative care and hospice services {PC&H} and to fashion out appropriate services for the patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 130 participants were studied using a questionnaire which comprised of three parts: Socio-demographic variables, Information about Knowledge and Attitudes towards PC&H.

RESULTS

Sixty nine were patients while 61 were family members. Ninety four [72.3%] had no knowledge of PC&H regardless of level of education and social status. 109 [84%] agreed that symptoms of the terminally ill patients should be treated to improve their quality of life and 75% of the participants agreed that this will be better done in a Hospice. 106 [83%] participants desire to have hospice established in every community, this again was regardless of tribe

CONCLUSION

There is a gross lack of knowledge about PC&H in our community as evidenced among the participants studied. However, there is a positive attitude towards PC&H suggesting a general acceptance, since there is presently no well established Hospice in Nigeria; we recommend that government and Non governmental organizations should assist in this area. A hospital based Hospice might be a starting point.