Abstract
Background
Despite the high mortality rates of HIV and cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, there are few outcome tools and no comparative data across conditions. This study aimed to measure multidimensional wellbeing among advanced HIV and/or cancer patients in three African countries, and determine the relationship between two validated outcome measures.
Methods
Cross-sectional self-reported data from palliative care populations in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa using FACIT-Pal and POS measures.
Results
Among 461 participants across all countries, subscale "social and family wellbeing" had highest (worst) score. Significant country effect showed lower (better) scores for Uganda on FACIT core scale, Personal, Emotional and Family Well-Being subscales. In multiple regression, country and functional status accounted for 21% variance in FACIT-Pal. Worsening functional status was associated with poorer POS score. Kenyans had worse score, followed by Uganda and South Africa. Matrix of correlational coefficients revealed moderate correlation between the POS and FACIT-Pal core scale (0.60), the FACIT-G and POS (0.64), and FACIT-G + Pal with POS (0.66).
Conclusions
The data reveal worst status for family and social wellbeing, which may reflect the sample being from less individualistic societies. The tools appear to measure different constructs of wellbeing in palliative care, and reveal different levels of wellbeing between countries. Those with poorest physical function require greatest palliative and supportive care, and this does not appear to differ according to diagnosis.
Despite the high mortality rates of HIV and cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, there are few outcome tools and no comparative data across conditions. This study aimed to measure multidimensional wellbeing among advanced HIV and/or cancer patients in three African countries, and determine the relationship between two validated outcome measures.
Methods
Cross-sectional self-reported data from palliative care populations in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa using FACIT-Pal and POS measures.
Results
Among 461 participants across all countries, subscale "social and family wellbeing" had highest (worst) score. Significant country effect showed lower (better) scores for Uganda on FACIT core scale, Personal, Emotional and Family Well-Being subscales. In multiple regression, country and functional status accounted for 21% variance in FACIT-Pal. Worsening functional status was associated with poorer POS score. Kenyans had worse score, followed by Uganda and South Africa. Matrix of correlational coefficients revealed moderate correlation between the POS and FACIT-Pal core scale (0.60), the FACIT-G and POS (0.64), and FACIT-G + Pal with POS (0.66).
Conclusions
The data reveal worst status for family and social wellbeing, which may reflect the sample being from less individualistic societies. The tools appear to measure different constructs of wellbeing in palliative care, and reveal different levels of wellbeing between countries. Those with poorest physical function require greatest palliative and supportive care, and this does not appear to differ according to diagnosis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 80 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 80 |
| Early online date | 31 May 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 May 2014 |
