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Abstract
Objective
To assess the utilization of palliative care (PC) and its associated factors among adult cancer patients in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) oncology center, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult cancer patients. Randomly selected adult cancer patients (≥ 18 years of age) attending their treatment at HUCSH oncology center PC unit were included. Data was collected from June to August, 2021. The aim was to interview 185 patients. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data entry was done using Epi-Data version 4.6 and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used in SPSS for analysis.
Results
Out of 180 study respondents, 66% were aged 50 years or older. Sixty-three percent were characterized to have a better utilization of PC services. Patients aged below 50 years (adjusted odds radio (AOR) = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.13–6.63), with a higher educational status (grade 9 to 12 or college/university graduation (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 0.41–5.21, and AOR = 3.23; 95% CI = 0.98–10.61, respectively), with a higher income >5,500 Birr (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 0.51–5.76), with and good accessibility of PC services (AOR = 2.99; 95% CI = 1.21–3.28) were significantly associated with better utilization of PC services.
Conclusion
The current study revealed two thirds of patients had better utilization of PC services. Older patients with low educational status and income and those living in rural areas had worse access to PC services. It is recommended to improve information provision about PC especially for older patients and patients with low education and to improve accessibility for patients in suburban and rural areas.
Keywords:
Transparency
Declaration of financial/other relationships
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.
Author contributions
AA, JAM, LT, SU, ESK, BD, and DF designed and conceived the study, developed the tool, coordinated the data collection, and carried out the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, and study participants for their cooperation and assistance during the study.
Data availability statement
All generated data are included in this article and its supporting document.
Ethical approval
Ethical clearance was obtained from Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Science, Institutional Review Board (IRB). A permission letter was obtained from HUCMHS School of Nursing. The purpose and objective of the study were explained to the respondents. Then, written consent was taken from each participant. The respondents were informed they could withdraw from the study at any time of data collection and/or refrain from responding to questions if they were not interested to participate for any reason.