Objectives This study aimed to identify patients with palliative care (PC) needs within Family Medicine Practice in the outpatient and inpatient settings, using the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicator Tool–Low-Income Settings (SPICT-LIS). The symptom burden among those identified with PC needs was also captured using the Palliative Care Assessment tool (PACA). Methodology This cross-sectional study included adults 18 years and above in the outpatient and inpatient settings of a Family Medicine Service Centre. All patients in the outpatient and inpatient settings were screened for the presence of chronic disease, and those with chronic disease were assessed using the SPICT-LIS tool to identify those with PC needs. The symptom burden of those identified was captured using the PACA tool. Results Over a month (17 January–17 February 2024) 2009 patients (1956 outpatients and 53 inpatients) were screened. The majority (n=1659, 82.6%) had chronic diseases; 82.5% (n=1614) and 85% (n=45) in the outpatient and inpatient settings, respectively. Overall, PC needs were identified among 1.1% (n=18) of patients with chronic disease; 0.8% (n=13) and 11.1% (n=5) in the outpatient and inpatient settings, respectively. The median PACA score was 8 (range=2–26). The most common symptom among patients with PC needs was pain (61.1%). Conclusion SPICT-LIS was useful to identify patients with PC needs. PC needs were higher in the inpatient setting. Those with PC needs have a significant symptom burden. Early identification for PC integration within the primary PC is possible. This helps in providing better symptom relief.
Antony et al. (Thu,) studied this question.