Lack of information for incurable diseases patients

Patients in Africa who have incurable, progressive diseases are often not receiving adequate information about their condition, a new study has found.

King's College London has revealed that patients in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as their family and carers, are often kept in the dark to an extent with regards to how to manage illnesses.

This can have a negative impact on their ability to cope with the disease, the research published in the British Medical Journal suggested.

Another area patients in sub-Saharan Africa are lacking in information on is the social and financial support they are entitled to.

Lucy Selman, research associate in the department of palliative care, policy and rehabilitation at King's, said: "Communication with patients and carers should be open and honest.

"It is also essential that services work closely with families and volunteer carers in the community, empowering them to provide the care the patient needs, including sensitive and accurate communication."

Ms Selman has also called for records of communication between staff and patients to be kept open.

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