Role of Hospice Care Centre in a Resource Constraint Area for the Care of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

Abstract

Context: Cancer patients in advanced stages often face severe physical, psychological, and spiritual challenges, impacting their quality of life (QOL) significantly. Ganga Prem Hospice (GPH) in Uttarakhand, India, provides specialized palliative care aimed at improving end-of-life experiences for terminally ill cancer patients.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of hospice-based palliative care on pain relief, symptom management, and QOL for terminal cancer patients.

Methods: This prospective study included 99 terminally ill cancer patients admitted to GPH from January 2022 to January 2023. Patient data collected included demographics, cancer stage, pain levels, symptom relief, QOL assessments, and place of death. Pain and symptom relief were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while QOL was categorized as “good” or “poor.” Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis were used to measure changes pre- and post-admission.

Results: The median age of patients was 49 years, with 58.6% male and 41.4% female representation. Advanced cancer stages (96.96% at Stage IV) were prevalent, with head and neck (34.34%), gastrointestinal (24.24%), and gynecological cancers (21.21%) as the most common types. Post-admission, patients reporting no pain increased from 4% to 23%, while 86% experienced symptom relief compared to 10% at admission. QOL improved markedly, with 86% of patients reporting good QOL after admission, up from 22% initially. The majority (72.6%) chose to remain at GPH for end-of-life care.

Conclusion: Palliative care at GPH significantly improved pain relief, symptom control, and QOL for terminally ill cancer patients, highlighting the essential role of hospice settings in end-of-life care, especially in resource-limited regions. These findings advocate for expanded hospice services to support both patients and families in terminal care.