PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION STRATEGIES OF PALLIATIVE CARE OF THE TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the perception of palliative care services by social workers of the selected Hospitals in Benin Metropolis. It investigated the experience of social workers as it relates to palliative care service. The socio-ecology theory was adopted to explain the issue under investigation. A combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques was utilized to collect data from the respondents in the field and 400 copies of questionnaires were administered to respondents, while ten (10) social care workers were orally interviewed and also, 4 family members whose loved ones were terminally ill were also interviewed and 2 terminally ill were also engaged in an in-depth interview. In gathering information from the field and their responses were utilized in explaining the information gathered. The findings showed that majority of the participants (67.3%) agreed that palliative care service can help patients suffering terminal diseases though, about 30% agreed that terminally ill patients benefit from palliative care service in the hospital. Yet, 68% of the participants agreed that patients admitted more than three times in 12 months with same symptoms needs palliative care. This study among others recommended that patients with life-limiting illnesses and their family require a better quality of life that can be achieved through provision of good palliative care that is available and accessible through several initiatives like national health insurance scheme (NHIS)in most government hospitals.