Education in Supportive Care at the United Methodist Church Nursing School Kiss, the Eastern Part of Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Background: Sierra Leone situated in west Africa. It lies between Guinea and Liberia. The country has a population of about seven million people. The country is divided into four regions, they are as follows-western area with Freetown being the capital city, southern province with Bo being the headquarter, northern province with Makeni being the headquarter and eastern province with Kenema being the headquarter. The country is divided into twelve district. Kissy is situated in the eastern part of Freetown. The population of Kissy is about four hundred and fifty thousand people. There are five public hospitals and small health centers. United Methodist Church Hospital is located at the heart of Kissy. Education on supportive care is very important in all hospitals and health centers so that health care workers can apply it when necessary. Supportive care are given to improve the quality of life of patients who have serious or life threatening disease. The goal of supportive care is prevention, treats as early as possible the symptoms of the disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, psychological, social and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment also called comfort care, palliative care and symptom management. Aim: 1. To raise public education on supportive care. 2. To help the participants understand the importance of supportive care to patients with life threatening disease. Methods: This study was based on interviewing forty health care workers comprises of the following people nurses, caregiver, social workers, community health officers, chaplain and volunteers from the three institutions and community. United Methodist church Nursing School, Kissy Nicole Terrace Health Center Kissy, Kissy Health Center and Kissy Mess-Mess: nurses (3); social workers (2); care givers (2); and community health officers (3). Nicole Terrace Health Center: nurses (3); social workers (2); care givers (2); and community health officers (3). Kissy Health Center: nurses (3); social workers (2); care givers (2); and community health officers (3). Kissy Mess-Mess: volunteers (5) and chaplains (5). Results: During my interview with the different categories of people in the different health institutions and community, I discussed with them supportive care its importance and the impact it creates in the life of a patient with life threatening disease. It was a one-to-one interview and information received was recorded. According to my evaluation, I observed that, none of them have knowledge about supportive care and the impact it creates in the life of patients with life threatening disease. The findings of my research indicate that all the people in the different institutions and community have no knowledge about supportive care. Conclusion: Since supportive care helps to improve the quality of life of patients who have serious life threatening disease, education on the issue of empowering the following people involved in providing supportive care, namely, nurses, care givers/volunteers, chaplain and social workers, will help to prolong the lives of patients with life threatening diseases.