Seizing the opportunity to leverage home-based palliative care for cancer education and screening in high-burden and resource-limited settings in India.

IF 2 Q3 HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES

Journal of Cancer Policy Pub Date : 2025-10-03 DOI:10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100646

Laxman Kumar Mahaseth, Subhadra Goala, Vidhubala Elangovan, Kathirvel Soundappan, Krishnakumar Rathnam, Bibha Thapa, Kanan Singha, Ravi Kannan

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Abstract

Background: Despite national screening efforts and a high cancer burden, the cancer screening rate is low in the northeast region of India. Seizing every opportunity for early detection is crucial in reducing cancer-related morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the outcomes of cancer education and symptom screening (CESS) among family members and neighbours of cancer patients on home-based palliative care (Home-PC) in Barak Valley of Assam, India.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study based on record review. Trained lay health workers (TLHW) attached to a tertiary cancer hospital conducted CESS sessions (self-administered or facilitated questionnaire) during routine Home-PC visits.

Results: Of 916 individuals, 75 (8.2%) reported cancer-related symptoms and 33 (44%) attended the screening OPD of a tertiary hospital for assessment. Of them, 17 (51.5%) were diagnosed with cancer, predominantly oral, breast, and other cancers. The median (interquartile range) days from symptom screening to screening OPD visit was 10 (2.5, 49.5) days, while from screening OPD visit to diagnosis was 1 (0, 8) day.

Conclusion: Integrating CESS into Home-PC is feasible and aids in prompt diagnosis in resource-limited settings. This strategy could be used as an opportunity for early cancer detection and management, especially in high-burden regions like Northeast India.

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抓住机会，在印度高负担和资源有限的环境中利用家庭姑息治疗进行癌症教育和筛查。

背景：尽管国家努力筛查和高癌症负担，癌症筛查率在印度东北部地区很低。抓住每一个早期发现的机会对于降低癌症相关发病率和死亡率至关重要。本研究评估了印度阿萨姆邦巴拉克山谷癌症患者家庭成员和邻居对家庭姑息治疗（Home-PC）的癌症教育和症状筛查（CESS）的结果。方法：这是一项基于文献回顾的回顾性队列研究。附属于三级癌症医院的训练有素的非专业保健工作者（TLHW）在常规家庭个人电脑访问期间进行了CESS会议（自我管理或辅助问卷调查）。结果：在916名患者中，75名（8.2%）报告了癌症相关症状，33名（44%）参加了三级医院的门诊筛查评估。其中17人（51.5%）被诊断患有癌症，主要是口腔癌、乳腺癌和其他癌症。从症状筛查到筛查门诊就诊的中位数（四分位数间距）为10（2.5,49.5）天，而从筛查门诊就诊到诊断为1（0,8）天。结论：在资源有限的情况下，将CESS纳入家庭pc是可行的，有助于及时诊断。这一策略可以作为早期癌症检测和管理的机会，特别是在印度东北部等高负担地区。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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