Awareness and utilization of palliative care among terminally ill cancer patients: A systematic review

Abstract

Author(s): Hemavathi S, Nandhini P, Sundararaj Rajkumar, Satchidanandam Abinizha, Parthasarathy S

A number of studies have revealed the productivity of the palliative care in enhancing the cancer end-of-life patients’ quality of life, yet the issues of its underuutilization become a challenge. This systematic review shall conform to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), which is an abbreviation of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. The literature search will be carried out covering different databases that include PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles released before May 2024. In this abstract the author describes targeted educational interventions, better incorporation of the palliative services into the oncology treatment and strong policy measures for increasing the acceptance and accessibility of the palliative care. In a community 6.1 per 1000 population needs some form of palliative care. The overall awareness in a community of a developed country is 71%, yet people still feel, it is for cancers. According to the National Trends Survey, 66% of cancer survivors had no knowledge of palliative care, 18% had a limited understanding, and just 17% could describe palliative care to others. This includes even physicians in whom, 15% lack a comprehensive knowledge on palliative care. About 40% of the physicians felt incompetent in discussing the concept of palliative care with their patients. The inclusion of palliative care can actually be integrated from the beginning of the treatment with benefits in regard to the symptoms and may also contribute to an increased lifespan. On the forefoot, awareness and reduction of the negative perception held by the patients and their families about such services is possible with availability of patient educative materials on palliative care. Secondly, there is a poor concordance between the integration of palliative care into oncology care. Some literature points to the fact that timely referral to palliative care enhances patients’ prognosis and decreases the costs to the system. Policy development requires this integration by putting in place policies, supporting structures, and reward systems for the integration of oncology and palliative care. Third, it is crucial to preserve community-based practices and outreach in regard to the early introduction of palliative care services. Strategic alliances between the hospitals and primary health care providers and with other NGOs can provide services such as skills enhancement programs, awareness programs, follow up support and home visits to patients and families affected by the neuro advantage. The final strategy in improving the taking of palliative care services is through the use of technology and telemedicine, especially in the rural and under-served regions. Using telehealth, remote monitoring of the patient, and the offering of support groups facilitating group therapy help fill the gap where patients cannot access palliative care services. Enhancing the awareness and use of palliative care among cancer patients will help not only to improve the patients’ quality of life but will also address the needs of families in distress. We need to include a special drive to increase the awareness among cancer survivors, community as a whole, and even physicians with a thrust on developing countries.

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