Quality of compassionate care among children with chronic heart failure at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: Compassion is a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. Heart failure/HF is a progressive clinical and pathophysiological condition caused by cardiovascular and noncardiovascular abnormalities. The study aimed to assess compassionate care among children with chronic HF at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. 

Methods: This observational cross-sectional study employed an Amharic 12-item Schwartz Center Compassionate Scale (SCCS) to assess compassionate care. Children aged 7years and above were included in the study. Logistic regression models were used to assess predictors.

Results: The study included 155 chronic HF subjects, females 56.1% (87). Majority of the respondents,75.5% (117), lived in an urban setting within 100-kilometers from health facility, 58.7% (91). The mean age at diagnosis and duration of follow-up was 5.2±3.8years and 5±3.5years, respectively. Congenital heart diseases, 55.5% (86) and rheumatic heart disease, 36.1% (56) were common causes for chronic HF. Successful compassionate care was reported in 25.2% (39) (95% CI: 18.5-32.8) of study subjects. Study subjects who lived within 100-kilometers from the follow up health facility had two times higher odds of reporting successful compassionate care, [AOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.06-4.75, P 0.035)].

Conclusion: In this study, only one fourth of study subjects with chronic heart failure had received compassionate care. Distance from the follow up health facility predicted successful compassionate care. Modalities to improve access including decentralization of clinical services for children with chronic heart failure and further mixed studies are recommended to assess how distance from a health facility relate to compassionate care.