Palliative Care Needs in India for Advanced Cancer

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21350885

Aishwarjya Chakraborty¹, Deepshikha Ray², and Ranajit K. Mandal³ (Department of Psychology, University Colleges of Science, Technology and Agriculture University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal^1,2 and Department of Gyanecological Oncology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata, West Bengal³)

Palliative care in India is a relatively emerging area for the treatment of life-limiting illnesses marked by different priorities and interests of the chief stakeholders – the patient or family caregivers. It is often difficult to measure all the things important to them that determine the quality of care. The current study attempts to understand the mutually identified needs of patients and carers of advanced cancer within the scope of practice and availability of palliative care in India. A descriptive-exploratory qualitative study based on phenomenology was conducted using interviews. Two advanced cancer patients and two informal caregivers receiving palliative care at a cancer hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal were interviewed. Two superordinate themes, viz., A) Systemic cause and B) Death anxiety were the most prominently reported challenges and consisted of the subordinate themes, viz., 1) Treatment inconsistency in care, 2) Lack of autonomy in treatment-related decision making, 3) Financial burden and treatment adherence, 4) Lack of awareness and 5) Personal responsibility of cancer diagnosis were identified. Cancer is a biopsychosocial disease determining the lives and livelihood of the incumbent. Organisational and social constraints that adversely impacts mental well-being of the patient as well as the family. Key strategies to ensure positive healthcare and social attitudes surrounding cancer are a necessity to reduce the psychosocial burden of cancer in India.