KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AT THE TAMALE REGIONAL HOSPITAL

The goal of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of family Caregivers in caring for terminally ill sufferers, to assess the practices of household Caregivers in caring for terminally ill sufferers, to examine the factors affecting household Caregivers in caring for terminally ill sufferers at the Tamale Regional Hospital. The findings show that there is the need for a caregiver to be present and ready to offer help to the patients due to their inability to move. Terminally ill patients may mostly be immobile or incapable of performing basic life functions without external support. It appears from the engagement with respondents that, the latter have appreciable knowledge of the concept of palliative care and care for terminally ill patients. They understand the challenging situation of terminally ill patients and are equally aware of what constitutes care for the sufferer. Also, family caregiver showed evidence of knowledge of health workers role in palliative care. They indicated that health workers had a crucial role to play in giving palliative care to the terminally ill patient. Doctors had the responsibility of prescribing medications while nurses also educate relatives and caregivers on palliative care. More so, health workers assisted in the caring of patients by assisting caregivers to physically move patients. Caregivers who could not move their patients due to the latters weight had to be assisted by some health workers. The result also indicates health workers played a crucial role in caring for terminally ill patients, of which caregivers were aware. The study further found that the other effect of caring for terminally ill patients was financial demands. To overcome this burden, the study recommends that caregivers had to cut their expenditures and request financial support from relatives and friends as family support was also a mechanism used in coping with the burden of caring for terminally ill patients. Also, the Tamale Regional Hospital should incorporate the services of family caregivers in the care of terminally ill patients. Their competence would immensely contribute to the improvement in the health of terminally ill patients. Further, the Ministry of Health should develop policies that will lessen burden on family caregivers of patients suffering from terminal diseases.