Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33133234›Full record

ArticleConflict and health2020

Addressing obstacles to the inclusion of palliative care in humanitarian health projects: a qualitative study of humanitarian health professionals' and policy makers' perceptions.

Matthew Hunt, Elysée Nouvet, Ani Chénier, Gautham Krishnaraj, Carrie Bernard, Kevin Bezanson, Sonya de Laat, Lisa Schwartz

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Conflict and health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Matthew HuntSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University; Researcher, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Rehabilitation, 3654 Prom Sir William Osler, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y5 Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-4190-0163
Elysée NouvetSchool of Health Studies, Western University, HSB 339 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5B9 Canada.
Ani ChénierHumanitarian Health Ethics Research Group, Western University, School of Health Studies, Western University, School of Health Studies, HSB 339, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5B9 Canada.
Gautham KrishnarajHumanitarian Health Ethics Research Group, McMaster University, CRL Building, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada.
Carrie BernardDepartment of Community and Family Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7 Canada.
Kevin BezansonNorthern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 980 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6V4 Canada.
Sonya de LaatGlobal Health, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, MDCL 3500, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada.
Lisa SchwartzDepartment of Health Research Methods & Impact, McMaster University, CRL Building, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada.
McMaster University · CAWestern University · CAImpact · CAMcGill University Health Centre · CAThunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre · CAUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHumanitarian non-governmental organizations provide assistance to communities affected by war, disaster and epidemic. A primary focus of healthcare provision by these organizations is saving lives; however, curative care will not be sufficient, appropriate, or available for some patients. In these instances, palliative care approaches to ease suffering and promote dignity are needed. Though several recent initiatives have increased the probability of palliative care being included in humanitarian healthcare response, palliative care remains minimally integrated in humanitarian health projects.

methodsWe conducted a qualitative study using interpretive description methodology to investigate humanitarian policy-makers' and health care professionals' experiences and perceptions of palliative care during humanitarian crises. In this article, we report on the analysis of in-depth interviews with 24 participants related to their perceptions of obstacles to providing palliative care in humanitarian crises, and opportunities for overcoming these obstacles. Among the participants, 23 had experience as humanitarian health professionals, and 12 had experience with policy development and organizational decision-making.

resultsParticipants discussed various obstacles to the provision of palliative care in humanitarian crises. More prominent obstacles were linked to the life-saving ethos of humanitarian organizations, priority setting of scarce resources, institutional and donor funding, availability of guidance and expertise in palliative care, access to medication, and cultural specificity around death and dying. Less prominent obstacles related to continuity of care after project closure, equity, security concerns, and terminology.

conclusionOpportunities exist for overcoming the obstacles to providing palliative care in humanitarian crises. Doing so is necessary to ensure that humanitarian healthcare can fulfill its objectives not only of saving lives, but also of alleviating suffering and promoting dignity of individuals who are ill or injured during a humanitarian crises, including persons who are dying or likely to die.

Indexed as

Armed conflictDisastersEbola virus disease, end of lifeEthics, humanitarian action, non-governmental organizations, palliative carePublic health emergencies

Identifiers

PMID33133234
PMCPMC7592183
OpenAlexW3096516153

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.