Thai Traditional Medicine Practitioner and Disciplinary Team Participation in the Process of Palliative Care for End Stage Liver Cancer at Thai Traditional and Integrated Medical Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore the process of Thai traditional medicine practitioner and disciplinary team participation in palliative care for patients with end stage liver cancer. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, observations, group discussions; and were analyzed by content analysis. The results indicated two important components of Thai traditional medicine practitioner and disciplinary team participation process for end stage liver cancer patients: (1) a process to develop organized participation in of end stage liver cancer patients, and (2) outcomes resulting from such pro­cess. The development of organized participation consisted of four steps: (1) building a team of hospital leaders; (2) identifying problems and needs; (3) designing of end stage liver cancer patients activities based on the concept of care capacity building through participation in hospital forum, sharing and learn­ing, setting mutual goals, planning and working together towards those goals; and (4) developing mutual agreements on the care of end stage liver cancer patient which is contextual appropriate. This process began with open communication channels to promote acknowledgement and participation in various ac­tivities both at individual and group. This continued until the project on care of end stage liver cancer was included into the hospital development plan. The outcomes of the disciplinary team participation devel­opment process included (1) patients with end stage liver cancer got together in the hospital and form a group, which strengthened the project because of the collaborative administration among themselves; (2) passive health care services have changed to being active and focus on quality of life rather than medical treatment; and (3) Thai traditional medicine practitioner and disciplinary staffs can perform health care activities for end stage liver cancer patients through the implementation of the project, and consequently, they increasingly gained access to the services.