Impact of Community Palliative Care on Quality of Life among Cancer Patients in Bangladesh

Mostofa Kamal Chowdhury, Shafiquejjaman Saikot, Nadia Farheen, Nezamuddin Ahmad, Sarwar Alam and Stephen R. Connor ()
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Mostofa Kamal Chowdhury: Department of Palliative Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Shafiquejjaman Saikot: Compassionate Narayanganj (Community-Based Palliative Care Project), c/o Department of Palliative Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Nadia Farheen: Department of Palliative Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Nezamuddin Ahmad: Department of Palliative Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Sarwar Alam: Department of Clinical Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Stephen R. Connor: Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, London WC1X 9JG, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Cancer, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, is often diagnosed at late stages in low- and middle-income countries, resulting in preventable suffering. When added to standard oncological care, palliative care may improve the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. A longitudinal observational study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2021. Thirty-nine cancer patients were enrolled in the Compassionate Narayanganj community palliative care group (NPC), where they received comprehensive palliative care in addition to oncological care. Thirty-one patients from the Dept. of Oncology (DO) at BSMMU received standard oncological care. In contrast to the DO group, the NPC group had a higher percentage of female patients, was older, and had slightly higher levels of education. At 10 to 14 weeks follow-up, a significant improvement in overall QOL was observed in the NPC group ( p = 0.007), as well as in the psychological ( p = 0.003), social ( p = 0.002), and environmental domains ( p = 0.15). Among the secondary outcomes, the palliative care group had reduced disability and neuropathic pain scores. Additionally, there were statistically significant reductions in pain, drowsiness, and shortness of breath, as well as an improvement in general wellbeing, based on the results of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale—Revised. At the community level in Bangladesh, increased access to palliative care may improve cancer patient outcomes such as QOL and symptom burden.

Keywords: compassionate community; Compassionate Narayanganj; community palliative care; standard oncological care; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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