Prevalence and Characteristics of Palliative Care in Cancer Patients in Uthumphon Phisai District

Abstract

Background: Palliative care focuses on holistic care, managing unhealthy physical and psychological, social, and soul. Knowing the number of cancer patients in Palliative care criteria and characteristics of palliative care can provide appropriate resources and care plans. Therefore, enough time can help patients get palliative care faster and lead to getting less pain and having a better quality of life.
Objective: To study the prevalence, general characteristics of patients, and diseases of palliative cancer patients
Methods: The study was descriptive to study the prevalence and characteristics of palliative care in cancer patients in the Uthumphon Phisai District in 2020. Data were collected from January 1 to December 31, 2020. Data were conducted from historical medical records, H.I.M.Pro programs, JHCIS programs, family files, and general patient data. The data about the disease were analyzed to find prevalence rates and general characteristics. Besides, the data about the disease with descriptive statistics, presented with frequency, percentage, range, average, and mean ± SD.
Results: 123 cancer patients came for treatment at Uthumphon Phisai Hospital In 2020. 123 the prevalence of palliative patients who were in the criteria was 120 per 100,000 population. Several males were more than females. Their average age was 67 years (SD=13), body mass index 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m2, marital status 82.11%, and no medical condition. Most patients were domiciled in Sa Kamphaeng Yai District. The level of patients receiving palliative care was 40-60%, 84.6%. The top four most common diseases founded were lung cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colon cancer and blood cancer. The top three diseases found in terminally ill patients were lung cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colon cancer, and breast cancer. The analysis of the relationship between treatment and disease distribution showed that disease distribution group, 52.11% were selected for treatment than those without metastasis symptoms. However, they were not statistically significant (Pearson chi 1.16). In addition, the single group had a caregiver as a parent, the married group had a caregiver as a husband or wife, and the divorced group had children, sisters, and brothers as caregivers, the relationship’ analysis between marital status and having caregivers of palliative care in cancer patients of the single group was significantly different from the married group in terms of statistics (P-value < 0.001).
Conclusion: prevalence of palliative patients was 120 per 100,000 population. A number of males were more than females. An average age of 67 years, the top four diseases were lung cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colon cancer, and blood cancer. It helped plan, increase screening the diseases, plan the care in advance for the disease found when the patient was in the late stage, and single patients who might