Quality of patient-centered cancer care in the gynecological wards at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Abstract

Background: Patient-centered cancer care (PCCC) is a health care practice that treats cancer patients with high regard by listening and educating them, and considering the patient and their significant others in all decisions about their management. It is a health care approach that provides a partnership between the health care providers, the patient and their relatives. Examining the patient’s perspective on the care offered is one of the best ways to evaluate patient-centered care. Purpose of the Study: To determine patient’s perceptions on the quality of patient-centered cancer care in the gynaecological wards at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Methodology: This was a qualitative study where 19 patients gave their lived experiences through in-depth interviews (IDIs). Purposive sampling was utilized, the audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to identify the common themes. Data was presented as narratives from the interviews and ethical approval and clearance was sort from KNH-UoN Ethics Review Committee and the KNH management. Results: Four major themes emerged: Holistic care, communication, respect for patient’s values, preferences and expressed needs, and family involvement. Patients’ positive experiences with holistic cancer care was closely coupled with improved overall health and quality of life. Participants felt pain was adequately managed, the environment was clean but assistance with toileting and bathing was not satisfactorily addressed neither was psychosocial and spiritual care provided. Several barriers to good communication were identified. Respect for patient’s values, preferences and expressed needs were perceived as present or absent by how the healthcare providers communicated with and treated them. Finally, there was no family involvement in the patient care. Conclusion: From the findings, the quality of PCCC provided in the gynaecological wards at KNH, as per the perceptions of the patient was below average. Recommendations: To safeguard quality patient-centered cancer care, all healthcare stakeholders need to be involved, and a tool to assess the quality of PCCC needs to be developed.Background: Patient-centered cancer care (PCCC) is a health care practice that treats cancer patients with high regard by listening and educating them, and considering the patient and their significant others in all decisions about their management. It is a health care approach that provides a partnership between the health care providers, the patient and their relatives. Examining the patient’s perspective on the care offered is one of the best ways to evaluate patient-centered care. Purpose of the Study: To determine patient’s perceptions on the quality of patient-centered cancer care in the gynaecological wards at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Methodology: This was a qualitative study where 19 patients gave their lived experiences through in-depth interviews (IDIs). Purposive sampling was utilized, the audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to identify the common themes. Data was presented as narratives from the interviews and ethical approval and clearance was sort from KNH-UoN Ethics Review Committee and the KNH management. Results: Four major themes emerged: Holistic care, communication, respect for patient’s values, preferences and expressed needs, and family involvement. Patients’ positive experiences with holistic cancer care was closely coupled with improved overall health and quality of life. Participants felt pain was adequately managed, the environment was clean but assistance with toileting and bathing was not satisfactorily addressed neither was psychosocial and spiritual care provided. Several barriers to good communication were identified. Respect for patient’s values, preferences and expressed needs were perceived as present or absent by how the healthcare providers communicated with and treated them. Finally, there was no family involvement in the patient care. Conclusion: From the findings, the quality of PCCC provided in the gynaecological wards at KNH, as per the perceptions of the patient was below average. Recommendations: To safeguard quality patient-centered cancer care, all healthcare stakeholders need to be involved, and a tool to assess the quality of PCCC needs to be developed.