FACTORS INFLUENCING REFERRAL OF CANCER PATIENTS FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY REHABILITATION AT UGANDA CANCER INSTITUTE (UCI)

D. Nareeba¹, B. Ainembabazi¹, D. Asiimwe¹, G. Atuhaire¹, K. Ochom¹

¹Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Physiotherapy, Kampala, Uganda

Background: Cancer and its treatment are linked to a variety of physical complications. Physiotherapy is recommended as the treatment of choice for improving cancer patients' physical function and quality of life. There is little information available about the factors that influence the referral of cancer patients for physiotherapy rehabilitation in low-income settings.

Purpose: We hoped to provide the groundwork for evidence-based solutions to build efficient referral systems for cancer patients in low-income settings.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was adopted. In-depth interviews were performed with 12 Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) health professionals who were chosen using a quota sampling approach. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the results. The UCI Research Ethical Committee granted ethical approval.

Results: Institutional aspects, health workers' factors and physiotherapists' factors, patient and caregiver considerations, and clinical features were shown to be the key sub-themes. Good inter-professional communication appreciated outcomes of physiotherapy treatment on cancer patients, and clinical characteristics are among facilitators to the referral of cancer patients for physiotherapy rehabilitation. Barriers to referral included but were not limited to, a lack of physiotherapists, a knowledge gap among health workers, patients, and caregivers, a lack of regulation of physiotherapy practice, and patients' clinical presentation.

Conclusions: Despite the extant evidence supporting the incorporation of rehabilitation in cancer therapy, cancer patient referral systems to rehabilitation in low-resource settings are impacted by forces from multiple sectors. There is a need to prioritize cancer patient rehabilitation and the development of efficient referral mechanisms that will improve cancer patients' quality of life.

Implications: This study lays the groundwork for better referral systems not only in cancer care but also in the broader field of physiotherapy in low-resource settings.

Funding acknowledgements: Would like to thank Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Uganda Cancer Institute fr the support rendered.

Keywords:
Cancer
Referral
Factors

Topics:
Oncology, HIV & palliative care
Service delivery/emerging roles
Globalisation: health systems, policies & strategies

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Uganda Cancer Institute

Committee: UCI REC

Ethics number: SR. 08/22