Accessibility to Palliative Care for Non-Cancer Patients Near the End of Life: The Obstacles and Opportunities

Abstract

Background: Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of accessibility to palliative care among non-cancer patients can promote the quality of life. However, data in this area of Thailand are limited. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of non-cancer patients’ access to palliative treatment. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed by a retrospective medical chart review of non-cancer patients admitted and later pronounced dead at Panyananthaphikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. The accessibility to the palliative care system was collected using the authors’ modification of the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT). All data were analyzed by using the chi-square test and the binary logistic regression model, respectively. Results: The prevalence of accessibility to palliative care among non-cancer patients was 15.69%. Non-cancer patients with renal and liver failure were significantly associated with accessibility to palliative care (adjusted OR 4.742, p=0.002 and 6.159, p=0.011, respectively). Conclusion: Prevalence of access to palliative care in non-cancer patients was 15.69%. Organ failure in non-cancer patients with renal and hepatic systems can boost accessibility to palliative treatment. There were few palliative patients without cancer that accessed palliative care service. Additionally, it is critical for healthcare professionals to be educated on the fundamentals of palliative care. Keywords: Non-cancer patients; Prevalence; Accessibility; Palliative care