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Joad ASK, Hota A, Agarwal P, Patel K, Patel K, Puri J, Shin S. “I want to live, but …” the desire to live and its physical, psychological, spiritual, and social factors among advanced cancer patients: evidence from the APPROACH study in India. BMC Palliat Care 2022; 21:153. [PMID: 36045352 PMCID: PMC9429624 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01041-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The limited access to palliative care resources along with the social stigma around cancer largely explains the poor quality of life (QoL) of Indian advanced cancer patients. As advanced cancer patients with poor QoL often harbour a desire for hastened death (DHD), it is imperative to understand factors affecting DHD, or the desire to live (DTL) among advanced cancer patients in India. We aim to examine the relationship between DTL and physical, psychological, spiritual, and social factors measuring patients’ QoL alongside their awareness of their late cancer stage.
Methods
We surveyed 200 patients from a tertiary cancer hospital in India to collect their DTL, awareness of cancer stage, demographic characteristics, and standardized measures for patients’ QoL. We used a linear probability regression model to quantify the association between these factors and patients’ DTL among the final sample of 192 patients with no missing information for the variables of interest.
Results
Among the various domains affecting cancer patients’ QoL, we found that the pain severity score (ranging from 0 to 10) and psychological distress score (ranging from 0 to 42) are negatively associated with the DTL. One point increase in each score reduced the DTL by 2.2% (p < 0.05) and 0.7% (p < 0.05), respectively. Our results also showed that patients whose perceived socio-economic status (SES) is poor have a 16% (p < 0.05) lower probability of DTL, compared to those with higher SES (lower middle class, upper middle class, and wealthy). Controlling for caste, religion, gender, age, marital status and years of education, we found psychological distress is statistically higher among patients belonging to this bottom SES.
Conclusions
We found that pain severity, psychological distress and perceived low SES are negatively associated with the desire to live in advanced cancer patients. Future research should focus on developing interventions to improve physical pain and psychological distress, particularly for patients who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
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Rao SR, Salins N, Joshi U, Patel J, Remawi BN, Simha S, Preston N, Walshe C. Palliative and end-of-life care in intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries: A systematically constructed scoping review. J Crit Care 2022; 71:154115. [PMID: 35907272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2022.154115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Death is common in intensive care units, and integrating palliative care enhances outcomes. Most research has been conducted in high-income countries. The aim is to understand what is known about the type and topics of research on the provision of palliative care within intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scoping review with nine databases systematically searched for literature published in English on palliative care in intensive care units in low- and middle- income settings (01/01/1990 to 31/05/2021). Two reviewers independently checked search results and extracted textual data, which were analyzed and represented as themes. RESULTS Thirty papers reported 19 empirical studies, two clinical case reports and six discussion papers. Papers originated from Asia and Africa, primarily using observational designs and qualitative approaches, with no trials or other robust evaluative or comparative studies. No studies directly sought data from patients or families. Five areas of research focus were identified: withholding and withdrawing treatment; professional knowledge and skills; patient and family views; culture and context; and costs of care. CONCLUSIONS Palliative care in intensive care units in low-and middle-income countries is understudied. Research focused on the specific needs of intensive care in low- and middle-income countries is required to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Rajesh Rao
- Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research, Bangalore Hospice Trust, Karunashraya, Bangalore, India.
| | - Naveen Salins
- Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.
| | - Udita Joshi
- Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research, Bangalore Hospice Trust, Karunashraya, Bangalore, India
| | - Jatin Patel
- Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research, Bangalore Hospice Trust, Karunashraya, Bangalore, India
| | - Bader Nael Remawi
- Lancaster Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, UK.
| | - Srinagesh Simha
- Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research, Bangalore Hospice Trust, Karunashraya, Bangalore, India
| | - Nancy Preston
- International Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, UK.
| | - Catherine Walshe
- International Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, UK.
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Mentzelopoulos SD, Chen S, Nates JL, Kruser JM, Hartog C, Michalsen A, Efstathiou N, Joynt GM, Lobo S, Avidan A, Sprung CL. Derivation and performance of an end-of-life practice score aimed at interpreting worldwide treatment-limiting decisions in the critically ill. Crit Care 2022; 26:106. [PMID: 35418103 PMCID: PMC9009016 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-022-03971-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Limitations of life-sustaining interventions in intensive care units (ICUs) exhibit substantial changes over time, and large, contemporary variation across world regions. We sought to determine whether a weighted end-of-life practice score can explain a large, contemporary, worldwide variation in limitation decisions.
Methods The 2015–2016 (Ethicus-2) vs. 1999–2000 (Ethicus-1) comparison study was a two-period, prospective observational study assessing the frequency of limitation decisions in 4952 patients from 22 European ICUs. The worldwide Ethicus-2 study was a single-period prospective observational study assessing the frequency of limitation decisions in 12,200 patients from 199 ICUs situated in 8 world regions. Binary end-of-life practice variable data (1 = presence; 0 = absence) were collected post hoc (comparison study, 22/22 ICUs, n = 4592; worldwide study, 186/199 ICUs, n = 11,574) for family meetings, daily deliberation for appropriate level of care, end-of-life discussions during weekly meetings, written triggers for limitations, written ICU end-of-life guidelines and protocols, palliative care and ethics consultations, ICU-staff taking communication or bioethics courses, and national end-of-life guidelines and legislation. Regarding the comparison study, generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis was used to determine associations between the 12 end-of-life practice variables and treatment limitations. The weighted end-of-life practice score was then calculated using GEE-derived coefficients of the end-of-life practice variables. Subsequently, the weighted end-of-life practice score was validated in GEE analysis using the worldwide study dataset. Results In comparison study GEE analyses, end-of-life discussions during weekly meetings [odds ratio (OR) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30–0.99], end-of-life guidelines [OR 0.52, (0.31–0.87)] and protocols [OR 15.08, (3.88–58.59)], palliative care consultations [OR 2.63, (1.23–5.60)] and end-of-life legislation [OR 3.24, 1.60–6.55)] were significantly associated with limitation decisions (all P < 0.05). In worldwide GEE analyses, the weighted end-of-life practice score was significantly associated with limitation decisions [OR 1.12 (1.03–1.22); P = 0.008]. Conclusions Comparison study-derived, weighted end-of-life practice score partly explained the worldwide study’s variation in treatment limitations. The most important components of the weighted end-of-life practice score were ICU end-of-life protocols, palliative care consultations, and country end-of-life legislation.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-022-03971-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros D Mentzelopoulos
- First Department of Intensive Care Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Evaggelismos General Hospital, 45-47 Ipsilandou Street, 10675, Athens, Greece.
| | - Su Chen
- D2, K Lab, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph L Nates
- Critical Care Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Kruser
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, USA
| | - Christiane Hartog
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Klinik Bavaria, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Andrej Michalsen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, and Pain Therapy, Konstanz Hospital, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Efstathiou
- School of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Gavin M Joynt
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Suzana Lobo
- Critical Care Division - Faculty of Medicine São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexander Avidan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Charles L Sprung
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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