{
  "abstract": "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.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Family Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"
      ],
      "name": "Jojin Eby Antony"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Family Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"
      ],
      "name": "Venkatesan Sankarapandian"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Family Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"
      ],
      "name": "Sajitha M F Rahman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Palliative Medicine, Christian Medical College and Hospital Vellore, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"
      ],
      "name": "Jyothsna Kuriakose"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Munday"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Kirsty J Boyd"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College and Hospital Vellore, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"
      ],
      "name": "Ruby Angeline Priscilla S"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Palliative Medicine, Christian Medical College and Hospital Vellore, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India"
      ],
      "name": "Jenifer Jeba Sundararaj"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Early identification for palliative care integration and symptom burden within family medicine practice in South India",
  "uid": "1e30d765-3688-5135-8b92-ba5932f13897"
}