Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Hospice Africa Uganda offers palliative care to both cancer and or HIV/AIDS patients and their families with the aim of improving the quality of life. Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems with life threatening illness through prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and careful assessment and treatment of pain and other problems. Problem statement: Psychosocial issues like, lack of self-esteem, hopelessness, loss of job, lack of care and love from beloved ones, lack of school fees manifest as physical pain and the underlying cause s overlooked. The impact of the disease burden on both the family and patient need both physical and thorough psychosocial assessment and interventions of individual or family therapy.
Project Description Individual and family therapy intervention helps identify the available resources and unused opportunities, which can better the patient's quality of life. Offering counselling and education with the knowledge of psychosocial care can assist in controlling patient's pain. Lessons Learnt: Psychosocial assessment and interventions if done appropriately can improve on patients' quality of life.
Conclusion Therefore, patients with terminal illness do not only suffer from physical but also experience psychological and social pains that need to be addressed.