The Quality of Life of the Patients Under Palliative Care: The Features of Appropriate Assessment Tools and the Impact of Early Integration of Palliative Care

Abstract

Based on the WHO definition, the primary objective of palliative care (PC) is to improve the quality of life (QoL) of the patients facing life threatening illness by means of a multidisciplinary approach. The assessment of QoL in patients under PC is an important process for the identification of patient’s overall conditions including psycho-social, spiritual issues as well as the evaluation of the services provided to the patient. The ideal assessment tool the measurement of QoL in patients under PC should be patient centered and contain both subjective and objective domains and be able to correlate with the definition of QoL. The factors which positively influence the extend of the QoL include, good doctor-patient communication, economic status, education, socio-economic support and spirituality. The negative factors are social isolation, lack of employment, poverty, rejection and stigmatization and experience of symptoms, such as uncontrolled pain. Early Integration of PC leads to higher psycho-social support and acceptance of diagnosis, and severity of illness, which in turn helps for the better symptom management and reduces the disease related stress, which clearly associated with improved QoL. It provides more time for the end of life decision making, promotes self-efficacy and sense of control in decision with respect to individual values.