Effects of a palliative care intervention on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced cancer in Eastern India

Aim/Background

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their family members facing the problems associated with life threading illness that contributes to distress. It focuses on providing patients with prevention and relief from suffering through assessment of treatment of pain and other physical as well as psychological problems. Present study examined the effect on quality of life after introducing palliative care on two months follow-up along with study of association between sociodemographic factors and participation for palliative care.

Methods

We have designed two therapeutic conditions: intervention group and control group. Patients are randomized between the intervention group and control and assessed at baseline of Quality of life and at 2 months follow-up with the use of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Patients in the control group receive a usual non-manualized supportive psychological intervention. On the other group four different types of techniques was applied in fifteen days interval. We have included patients who have already diagnosed and know their disease status. Patients who are included in the study were at least 20 years.

Results

Result showed average age of patients was 39.03 ± 12.42 years.Frequency of female cancer patients (75%) were high rather than other patients. Ice breaking was significantly associated with personal history (p = 0.11), gain knowledge regarding disease (p = .500) and psychological support (p = 0.46). After fifteen days patients reported significant improvements in quality of life taking proper knowledge regarding disease (p = .001). Scores of quality of life respect with before and after psychological intervention significantly associated with each other. (p= 0.000).

Conclusions

Palliative care is the most promising psychological intervention and can be given throughout a patient's experience. Among patients early palliative care led to significant improvement in quality of life. As compared with patients receiving proper knowledge regarding disease had better quality of life rather than other techniques. This study addressed critical concerns regarding the use of health care services during the period of treatment.

Clinical trial identification

Not Applicabe

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.