BMC palliative care
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BMC palliative care · Jun 2019
End-of-life care in rural general practice: how best to support commitment and meet challenges?
Few studies have specifically assessed the scope, nature and challenges of palliative and end-of-life care in rural general practice. These knowledge gaps limit the development of evidence-based policies and services for patients in the last months of life. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) and other stakeholders on rural GPs' involvement and challenges in providing palliative and end-of-life care in regional Australia. ⋯ Rural/regional GPs appear to be disproportionately affected by inappropriate payment models and limited resources, but may benefit from closer doctor-patient relationships and better care integration and collaboration relative to urban GPs. Systematic collection of empirical data on GP management at end-of-life is required to build on these strengths and address the challenges.
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BMC palliative care · Jun 2019
The financing of stand-alone palliative Care Services in Uganda: analysis of the implications for sustainability.
Sustainable funding is key for ensuring the quality and coverage of palliative care services. This study examined the sources of funding for stand-alone palliative care services in Uganda as well as their services financial sustainability plans. ⋯ The majority of stand-alone palliative care organizations in Uganda are largely donor funded. They have considerable financial sustainability and fund-raising capacity. Government support is in the form of medicines and training. Based on this study findings, the capacity of the stand-alone palliative care services to raise funds should be increased. The Government of Uganda should include palliative care in the national health system and increase funding for these services.