Assessment of Palliative Care Needs and Responses Among Inpatient Cancer Patients at Viet Tiep Hospital, 2024

Abstract

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the palliative care needs, their fulfillment, and associated factors among inpatient cancer patients at Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital in 2024. The study revealed a high overall prevalence of palliative care needs at 81.6%. Needs for medical information were most prevalent (94.4%), followed by spiritual support (74.7%) and physical support (70.6%). Regarding the fulfillment of palliative care needs, an overall prevalence was 83.1%; 88.4% of patients had their medical information needs met, while 79.1% and 75.6% received adequate emotional and physical support, respectively. Male patients were 9.7 times more likely to report palliative care needs than female patients (OR=9.7; 95% CI: 8.8-10.4; p<0.05). Additionally, patients with health insurance showed a 3.8 times higher likelihood of having palliative care needs compared to those without insurance (OR=3.8; 95% CI: 2.8-5.0; p=0.05). In terms of palliative care need fulfillment, male patients were 3.8 times more likely to have their needs met than female patients (OR=3.8; 95% CI: 3.2-3.7; p=0.05). Patients reporting no religious affiliation had a 6.0 times higher likelihood of their palliative care needs being met than those with a religious affiliation (OR=6.0; 95% CI: 4.4-4.8; p<0.05).