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conferenceseries
.com
Volume 10
Journal of Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis: Open Access
Asia Pacific Oncologists & Hospice 2019
May 13-14, 2019
May 13-14, 2019 Singapore
Annual Meeting on
Asia Pacific Oncologists, Hospice and Palliative Care
J Carcinog Mutagen 2019, Volume 10
DOI: 10.4172/2157-2518-C1-006
Referral pattern at a young palliative care unit in southwest, Nigeria
Fatungase O M, Shoyemi R O and Ayoade B A
Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Background: Studies have shown that palliative care referral is not done as often and as early as required. In order to identify
the potential barriers to appropriate referrals and awareness of palliative care service in a young growing unit. The current
referral pattern would need to be audited for efficient palliative care services.
Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out reviewing all the in-patients from the medical information’s
department and palliative care unit records. The data was collected from the June 1st 2016 to October 30th 2018. Data was
entered using the SPSS statistical package version 20 (Chicago IL).
Result: There were a total of 10,186 in-patient admissions during the 29 months review period. The number of patients
diagnosed as having different forms of cancer were 309, out of which only forty two (42; 13.6%) cancer patients were referred
to be seen by the palliative care unit of the hospital. General surgeons referred the most; 21(50%), then gynecologist 14(33.3%),
Internal medicine 3(7.1%), hematology 2(4.8%), while orthopedics and pediatric referrals were 1(2.4%) each. It should be
noted that 100% of cases referred were cancer patients.
Conclusion: In view of the referral pattern documented in our facility, most clinicians benefit from education on who needs
palliative care how early such patient should be referred to palliative care specialist for better quality of life.
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