Browsing by Author "Centeno, Carlos"

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    An Analysis of Palliative Care Development in Africa: A Ranking based on Region-Specific Macro-Indicators
    (Journal of pain and symptom management, 2018) Rhee, John Y.; Garralda, Eduardo; Namisango, Eve; Luyirika, Emmanuel; Centeno, Carlos
    To date, there is no study comparing palliative care (PC) development among African countries.To analyze comparatively PC development in African countries based on region-specific indicators.Data were obtained from the African PC Association Atlas of PC in Africa, and a comparative analysis was conducted. Nineteen indicators were developed and defined through qualitative interviews with African PC experts and a two-round modified Delphi consensus process with international experts on global PC indicators. Indicators were grouped by the World Health Organization public health strategy for PC dimensions. These indicators were then sent as a survey to key informants in 52 of 54 African countries. Through an expert weighting process and ratings from the modified Delphi, weights were assigned to each indicator. Surveys were received from 89% (48 of 54) of African countries. The top three countries in overall PC development were, in order, Uganda, South Africa, and Kenya. Variability existed by dimension. The top three countries in specialized services were Uganda, South Africa, and Nigeria; in policies, it was Botswana followed by parity among Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Swaziland; in medicines, it was Swaziland, South Africa, then Malawi; and in education, it was equivalent between Uganda and Kenya, then Ghana and Zambia.Uganda, South Africa, and Kenya are the highest performing countries and were the only ones with composite scores greater than 0.5 (50%). However, not one country universally supersedes all others across all four PC dimensions. The breakdown of rankings by dimension highlights where even high-performing African countries can focus their efforts to further PC development.
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    Factors Affecting Palliative Care Development in Africa: In-Country Experts’ Perceptions in Seven Countries
    (Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2018) Rhee, John Y.; Garralda, Eduardo; Namisango, Eve; Luyirika, Emmanuel; de Lima, Liliana; Powell, Richard A.; Robinson, Carole A.; Centeno, Carlos
    Factors contributing to and impeding palliative care (PC) development in Africa can provide insights into current strategies for advancing PC.To identify key factors affecting PC development in African countries from in-country PC experts' perspectives.About 16 PC experts from seven African countries undertook semistructured interviews on PC development in their respective countries. An interpretive description approach was adopted, with data analyzed using constant comparison.Emerged themes included drivers, strengths, challenges, and aspirations for PC development in Africa. Drivers included advocates and pioneering organizations, HIV/AIDS, culture of caregiving, and the World Health Assembly PC resolution. Strengths included community health workers, the special role of nurses, diversity of services, and short training courses. Challenges included lack of PC education; lack of standardization in implementation; limited availability of and/or accessibility to morphine; poverty and disease burden; and lack of funding for PC. Aspirations included integration of PC, specialization in PC, nurse prescribing, and strong partnerships with Ministries of Health. Factors already highlighted in the literature were only briefly discussed.The key factors underpinning PC development in the seven countries contributed to the beginnings of PC in Africa, fueled by advocates who built on existing strengths to maximize opportunities. However, the current approach is at high risk in terms of its sustainability, and strategies for maximizing existing resources and growing infrastructure support are needed moving forward.
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    Palliative Care in Africa: a Scoping Review from 2005–16
    (The Lancet Oncology, 2017) Rhee, John Y.; Garralda, Eduardo; Torrado, Carlos; Blanco, Santiago; Namisango, Eve; Luyirika, Emmanuel; Powell, Richard A.; Centeno, Carlos
    Since the last comprehensive review on the development of national palliative care in Africa was undertaken 12 years ago, in 2005, we did a scoping review of peer-reviewed, published articles on palliative care development between 2005–16 for each African country. The scoping review was conducted by assessing the medical literature and including local expert recommendations of suggested articles. We did a basic quality assessment of the articles using the journals' impact factor, journal quartile, and the number of citations as suitable metrics for quality consideration. Articles published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French that mentioned at least one dimension of WHO's palliative care public health strategy (implementation of services, education, policies, or medicine availability) and vitality (activity by professionals or advocates) were included. Of the 518 articles found, 49 met the inclusion criteria. Information on 26 (48%) of 54 African countries was found. Most services were concentrated in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, and 14 (26%) countries showed an increase in services during this timeframe. Stand-alone palliative care policies exist in Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Postgraduate diplomas in palliative care are available in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Tanzania. Restricted access to opioids, prescriber restriction laws, and a low prevalence of morphine use remain common barriers to adequate palliative care provision. Although information on palliative care is unevenly distributed, the available information showed an increased development of palliative care services in a subset of African countries. Despite this growth, however, there is still minimal to no identified palliative care development in most African countries.