Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39448220›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Challenges and opportunities for strengthening palliative care services in primary healthcare facilities: perspectives of health facilities in-charges in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Nathanael Sirili, Furahini Yoram, Veronica Mkusa, Christina V Malichewe, George Kiwango, Juda Thadeus John Lyamai, Obadia Venance Nyongole

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

7 authors.

Nathanael SiriliDepartment of Development Studies, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5205-624X
Furahini YoramDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of furahiniyoram@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8990-7172
Veronica MkusaPalliative Care Trainers and Researchers Network, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of.
Christina V MalicheweDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of.
George KiwangoDepartment of Physiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of.
Juda Thadeus John LyamaiAnt-Poverty Sensitization and Community Development Planning Foundation (ASCODEPF), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of.
Obadia Venance NyongoleDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9807-1960

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith the rise of non-communicable diseases in Tanzania, palliative care (PC) is increasingly needed to improve the quality of life for these patients through pain and symptom management and providing psychological care, social and spiritual support. Despite a larger portion of the population having access to healthcare services at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Tanzania, PC services are limited and less organised at this level. This study explored the challenges facing the provision of PC and the opportunities for strengthening PC services at PHC facilities in Tanzania.

methodsWe adopted an exploratory qualitative case study to conduct in-depth interviews with 15 health facilities in charge from 15 purposefully selected PHC facilities in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania, in August 2023. We analysed the gathered information using qualitative content analysis.

resultsTwo categories emerged from the analysis of the gathered information. These are (1) challenges facing the provision of PC services at PHC facilities and (2) opportunities for strengthening PC services at PHC facilities. The challenges are grouped as provider-level, facility-level and patient-level challenges. The opportunities are organised into three subcategories. These are the increasing demand for PC services, the availability of multiple supporting systems and a functional referral system.

conclusionThis study underscores the challenges and opportunities for providing PC services at PHC facilities. These findings call for a collaborative effort from health system players to strengthen the available PC services. The efforts should include expanding the coverage of PC services at the PHC facilities and healthcare providers' training. Expansion of PC services should include introducing them in places where they are unavailable and improving them where they are not available. PC training should consider preservice training in the health training institutions' curricula and continued medical education to the existing staff. Furthermore, we recommend community health education to raise awareness of PC services.

Indexed as

Palliative CarePrimary Health CareQualitative ResearchHealth FacilitiesHealth Services AccessibilityHumansInterviews as TopicTanzaniaAdult palliative carePalliative CarePrimary Health Care

Identifiers

PMID39448220
PMCPMC11499778

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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.