Integration of Palliative Care Into Comprehensive Cancer Treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Western Kenya

Abstract

Purpose The prognosis for the majority of patients with cancer in Kenya is poor, with most patients presenting with advanced disease. In addition, many patients are unable to afford the optimal therapies required. Therefore, palliative care is an essential part of comprehensive cancer care. This study reviews the implementation of a palliative care service based at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, and describes the current scope and challenges of providing palliative care services in an East African tertiary public referral hospital. Methods This is a review of the palliative care clinical services at the only tertiary public referral hospital in western Kenya from January 2012 through September 2014. Palliative care team members documented each patient's encounter on standardized palliative care assessment forms; data were then entered into the Academic Model Providing Access to Health Care (AMPATH)-Oncology database. Interviews were also conducted to identify current challenges ...