| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: The increasing cases of non-communicable diseases specifically cancer has led to
incorporation of palliative care in the management. However, only 10% of these patients have
access to palliative care (WHO, 2014). Healthcare utilization is an important step to disease
management as it is helps provide individuals with opportunities for prevention and treatment of
diseases. The study applied the PEN-Andersen behavioural model by use of a binary probit to
estimate the progressive utilization of palliative care services by cancer patients.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine factors influencing progressive utilization of
palliative care by cancer patients.
Methodology: A cross-sectional data survey was conducted for 169 cancer patients seeking
palliative care at the Nairobi Hospice in 2013. For each patient, the predisposing, enabling and
need (PEN) factors were analysed. Nairobi County is a proxy for distance implying progressive
utilization of palliative care compared to those residing in other counties in the study.
Finding: Descriptive statistics showed that 27% of patients reside in Nairobi County, 61% were
females, 62% were married, 35% had primary education, 44% were self-employed and 59% had
medical insurance. Probit regression and marginal effects showed that age, gender, education level
employment and Muslim religion were significant in determining the progressive utilization of
palliative care
Conclusion: Age, gender, educational level, employment status and religion are the major factors
that both government and health related Non-Governmental Organization need to consider in an
effort to increase the probability of progressively utilizing palliative care so as to improve the
health status of cancer patients. | en_US |
| dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |
