Barriers to the integration of palliative care in Ghana: evidence from a tertiary health facility

Abstract

Background: Integration of palliative care (PC) in cancer management is critical to improving the overall quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Nevertheless, only a few people in need of PC services actually receive them. Objective: The study explored the barriers to the successful integration of PC in cancer management in Ghana. Design: The design was an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design. Methods: In all, we conducted 13 interviews with service providers (7), patients (4) and caregivers (2). An inductive thematic analysis was carried out. Data were managed using QSR NVivo 12. Results: Our study reveals the different levels of barriers that adversely affect the successful integration of PC and cancer management. Emerging from the findings are patient- and family-level barriers (denial of the primary diagnosis and understanding of PC and financial constraints), service provider–level barriers (healthcare providers’ misunderstanding of PC and late referrals), and institutional and policy-level barriers (infrastructural and logistical constraints, non-inclusion of PC in the National Health Insurance Scheme, low staff strength). Conclusion: We conclude that different levels of barriers are encountered in the integration of PC in cancer management. There is a need for policymakers to develop comprehensive guidelines and protocols for the integration of PC into cancer management. These guidelines should address the various levels of factors that serve as barriers to PC integration. The guidelines should also emphasise the importance of early referral for PC and educate service providers on the benefits of PC for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Our findings underscore a need to include PC services and medication in the benefits package of the health insurance scheme to reduce the financial burden on patients and their families. In addition, continuous professional training of all cadre of service providers is needed to facilitate PC integration.