Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40877806›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2025

Does palliative care improve the quality of life for cancer patients in three tertiary hospitals in South Africa?

Mpho Ratshikana, Witness Mapanga, Sukoluhle Pilime, Peedi Mathobela, Oluwatosin Ayeni, Anu Abrahams, Lawrence Mandikiana, Phillip Makume, Sonti Imogene Pilusa, Jacob Merika Tsitsi

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Article in BMC palliative care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Mpho RatshikanaFaculty of Health Sciences, Wits Centre for Palliative Care, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Witness MapangaFaculty of Health Sciences, Wits Centre for Palliative Care, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sukoluhle PilimeFaculty of Health Sciences, Wits Centre for Palliative Care, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. spilime@uwaterloo.ca.
Peedi MathobelaFaculty of Health Sciences, Wits Centre for Palliative Care, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Oluwatosin AyeniDepartment of Radiation Sciences, Division of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Anu AbrahamsDepartment of Internal Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lawrence MandikianaFaculty of Health Sciences, Wits Centre for Palliative Care, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Phillip MakumeFaculty of Health Sciences, Wits Centre for Palliative Care, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sonti Imogene PilusaPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Jacob Merika TsitsiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundQuality of life (QoL) is a crucial treatment outcome for cancer patients, who often experience significant symptom burden and distress. Despite its benefits, access to palliative care remains limited in many settings, including South Africa. This study assessed changes in QoL before and after palliative care interventions and examined factors associated with QoL improvements.

methodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted among cancer patients referred for palliative care at three tertiary hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa. Interdisciplinary teams provided palliative care, and patient data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected. QoL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL BREF) tool at baseline and follow-up. Paired t-tests compared mean QoL scores, and mixed regression analysis identified factors associated with QoL improvements. Data were analyzed using Stata version 18 SE.

resultsAmong 724 patients (68.51% female, mean age 51.78 years, SD: 16.62), the most common cancers were breast (29.83%), gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary (21.27%), and cervical (16.71%). Baseline QoL mean (SD) scores were low across all domains. Following palliative care, significant improvements (p < 0.001) were observed: general health improved from 43.64 (26.17) to 66.28 (26.71); physical health from 48.46 (15.45) to 53.42 (15.08); psychological health from 57.54 (17.39) to 65.44 (18.75); environmental health from 60.97 (19.90) to 71.49 (18.84) and social health from 59.26 (25.60) to 71.08 (23.54) (all p < 0.001). HIV-negative status was associated with better outcomes across all domains, with coefficients ranging from 0.19 to 0.46 (p < 0.05) compared to those living with HIV.

conclusionsPalliative care significantly improved QoL across all measured domains among cancer patients at tertiary hospitals in Johannesburg. These findings highlight the need to integrate palliative care into routine oncology treatment to enhance patient well-being.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPalliative CareQuality of LifeAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSouth AfricaSurveys and QuestionnairesTertiary Care CentersCancerCancer careComprehensivePalliative careQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID40877806
PMCPMC12395754

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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.