Understanding the Ethical Challenges in the Practice of Palliative Care in Uganda (360G-Wellcome-208129_Z_17_Z)

Aim: To explore and describe the ethical challenges faced by palliative care professionals in Uganda, and assess clinical and educational implications. Background: Palliative care services, originally developed in the UK, are being translated to locations across the world. Cross-cultural value differences must be considered in the implementation of new services, with UK models adapted accordingly. Exploring ethical challenges faced by palliative care professionals will inform understanding of the nature of these differences; and how they impact on care, and speciality training curricula. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews with Ugandan palliative professionals and regional trainees studying at Hospice Africa Uganda, to explore the ethical challenges faced day-to-day. A subsequent continent-wide online survey to examine how ethical challenges and concepts vary in content across geographical contexts. Use of empirical bioethics approaches to formulate recommendations for palliative care practice and education, with stakeholder workshops in Kampala and London to review the draft recommendations for changes in curricula in both countries. Outputs: The findings will inform evidence-based changes to palliative care ethics curricula, directly impacting healthcare training across Africa and further afield, and benefiting those who provided the data. This study will also provide research training to support a career-long body of work examining these issues.