Referral Pattern of Cancer Patients to a Young Palliative Care Unit in Southwest, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Studies have shown that palliative care referral is not done as often and as early as required.  In order to identify the potential barriers, an audit of current referral pattern is required towards planning for efficient palliative care services.  This study aims to determine the pattern of referral of patients for palliative care and the outcome of care provided.  A retrospective cross-sectional study, reviewing records of all inpatients from 1st June  2016 to 30th October 2018  at the health information's department and palliative care unit  of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun state.. Data was manually analyzed and results are presented in prose, tables and figures. There were a total of 10,186 in-patients admissions during the 29-months review period. The number of patients diagnosed with cancer was 309, out of which only forty-two (42, 13.6%) were referred to the palliative care unit. General surgeons referred most patients; (21, 50%), the Gynecologist (14, (33.3%), Internal medicine physicians (3, (7.1%), Haematology (2, (4.8%), while Orthopaedic surgeons and Paediatricians referred (1, (2.4%) each.  All referred patients had no other intercurrent illness. In conclusion; referral pattern documented at our health facility showed that so far only cancer patients were referred.  It was noted that the percentage being referred is still very low. Most clinicians would benefit from education on who should be referred for palliative care and how early so as to improve the quality of life of patients who need such services