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Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Palliative care involves understanding individual and cultural preferences of patients. Patient autonomy is paramount and this involves making decisions concerning treatment, place of care, as well as, end of life care. Evidence suggests that advance care planning improves communication between patients, families and health care providers, which reduces anxiety and improves quality of life. Access to healthcare, as well as, palliative care is limited in low income economy countries and there is limited knowledge on advance care planning. Discussions of prognosis and advance directives are rare leading to inappropriate aggressive treatment at the end of life. Comparison of studies done in high income and low income societies is my focus as I aim to answer the research question: How do patients with life limiting illnesses in low income economies perceive advance care directives at the end of life compared to those in high income economies? Methodology: Referenced papers were identified by searches of PUBMED and MEDLINE limited to English language using key words: Advance care planning, advance directives, end of life care and low income economies. Only papers published between 1st January 1996 and 31st December 2016 were included. Of the 10 identified papers 3 were selected as the discussed studies on patients� attitudes towards advance care planning at the end of life phase. Results: The 3 selected papers discussed in depth qualitative studies were done in Africa, as well as, in the developed world. In the South African study it was evident that participants thought advance care planning was relevant in their set up. Health care preferences however depended on available resources. In the other two studies approximately 80% of patients thought advance care planning was very relevant and needed to be discussed with their physicians. Conclusion: Advance care planning is important to all patients with life limiting illnesses. Many patients are willing to discuss with their doctors on issues of prognosis and advance directives. In high income economy countries, advance care planning is more accessible as compared to low income economy countries. In both regions however, these discussions are influenced by culture and availability of resources.

Biography

Esther Nafula Wekesa is a registered Medical practitioner in Kenya working with M.P Shah Hospital, Nairobi. Her passion for palliative care started in 2011 when she was a fourth year undergraduate medical student at the University of Nairobi. She attended a one week induction course organized by the Nairobi Hospice and her interested sparked. She volunteered for three months at the Coast Hospice and was truly amazed by the difference palliative care brought to patients’ and families lives. In 2014 while undertaking her internship period, she joined the Diploma for Higher Education in Palliative Care coordinated by the Oxford Brookes University and Nairobi Hospice. She also started volunteering at the Kakamega Hospice and later on at the Nairobi Hospice. Working with palliative care patients has been truly fulfilling. She always aims to be honest, to communicate effectively and to help patients have quality of life despite their illnesses. She currently pursues a Master of Science in Palliative Care at the Oxford Brookes University since January 2016. Her goal is to join the small world of palliative care specialists in her country in order to advocate for integration into the mainstay healthcare. She believes that she can help in creating awareness and availability of the much needed palliative care in Kenya.

Email: nafulah@gmail.com