Sadiq Fawziyyah Usman, Yeh Yu-Lyu, Liao Hung-En, Pranata Muhammad Alwi Eka, Patnaik Sneha, Shih Yin-Hwa
Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Department of Biology, Microbiology and Science Laboratory Technology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Glob Health Action. 2025 Dec;18(1):2485742. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2025.2485742. Epub 2025 Apr 10.
People living in low - and middle-income countries are less likely to receive palliative care. Early delivery of palliative care reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and improves patients' and their families' quality of life. This systematic review has compiled and scrutinized adult cancer patients' benefits, barriers, and specific palliative care needs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to provide stakeholders with vital information that can improve the support and care provided to this expanding patient population. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Medline, and ProQuest under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies included in the review focused on the utilization of palliative care among adult cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tools assessed study quality. This review synthesized findings from 16 studies and highlights that access to palliative care improves cancer patients' quality of life, satisfaction, and outlook on diagnosis. However, limited knowledge, financial constraints, and systemic obstacles impede access. Patients' needs were categorized into four themes: physical comfort, psychosocial support, spiritual well-being, and socioeconomic assistance. Palliative care improves adult cancer patients' quality of life in sub-Saharan Africa, but barriers hinder access. To address the challenges and meet patients' needs, enhancing literacy about palliative care, providing financial support, and implementing structured and sustainable palliative care models are essential for strengthening services and improving regional healthcare.
生活在低收入和中等收入国家的人们获得姑息治疗的可能性较小。尽早提供姑息治疗可减少不必要的住院，并改善患者及其家人的生活质量。本系统评价收集并审查了撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）成年癌症患者的益处、障碍和特定的姑息治疗需求，以便为利益相关者提供重要信息，从而改善对这一不断扩大的患者群体的支持和护理。按照系统评价和Meta分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）指南，使用PubMed、护理及相关健康文献累积索引（CINAHL）、Embase、Medline和ProQuest进行了系统的文献检索。纳入该评价的研究聚焦于撒哈拉以南非洲成年癌症患者的姑息治疗利用情况。乔安娜·布里格斯研究所（JBI）的批判性评价工具评估了研究质量。本评价综合了16项研究的结果，并强调获得姑息治疗可改善癌症患者的生活质量、满意度和对诊断的看法。然而，知识有限、资金限制和系统性障碍阻碍了获得治疗。患者的需求分为四个主题：身体舒适、心理社会支持、精神健康和社会经济援助。姑息治疗可改善撒哈拉以南非洲成年癌症患者的生活质量，但障碍阻碍了获得治疗。为应对挑战并满足患者需求，提高对姑息治疗的认知、提供资金支持以及实施结构化和可持续的姑息治疗模式对于加强服务和改善区域医疗保健至关重要。
