A study on day care as one of the service provided by Nairobi Hospice in Kenya

Day care is one of the services being offered by Nairobi Hospice and patients/families have come to appreciate the service, this service have been described as a form of 'sensory shielding' by directing attention to something else, the patient less aware of noxious stimuli

Goal
The goal was to evaluate the importance of the day care service as one of the services offered by Nairobi Hospice.

Method
A survey was developed to determine how the patients and families felt about the service. Explanation was done and 34 subjects volunteered to complete the survey, 22 patients and 12 family members.

Results
85% of the patients referred day care as a place to socialise, share their stories and encourage each other, by seeing and talking to others about their problems, it offers a form of distraction, which is one of the psychological method of relieving pain. They enjoy activities such as knitting, playing games, beading and singing. 15% attends once and refer day care as exposing their illness. 80% families says it gives them time to do other things and re-charge their energies to care for their loved ones and it is part of occupational and rehabilitation therapy for their patients and some borrow different coping mechanism and so doing, they feel supported and not in it alone. 10% lacked time, 10%feared their patients would not cope with group sharing. 75% patients find new friends while 25% fear knowing each other much, 90% families says patients are bright after day care while 10% disagree.

Conclusion
Results indicate that majority of patients and families felt the service is importance and looked forward in attending. It shows psychosocial is one of the key area in having a better quality of life and need to be addressed.

This study indicates day care service is valued and other Hospices in Kenya need to implement as one of their services.