Quality of Life of People Living with Cancer Under Institutionalized Palliative Care and Community Based Palliative Care in Kerala

This study compares the Quality of Life (QoL) of Cancer Patients under Institutionalized Palliative Care (IPC) and Community Based Palliative Care (CBPC) in Kerala. A Comparative and descriptive research designed was adopted for the study. The universe of the study included two IPC centers in Thiruvananthapuram district and two CBPC centers in Malappuram district. A total of 100 respondents (50 respondents each from IPC & CBPC) drawn up using purposive sampling technique was the sample of the study. Data for the research was collected using a semi-structured interview schedule and WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Assessment scale of 26 items (2001) for assessing the QoL. Statistical Analysis was performed using statistical analysis software SPSS version 11.5. T-test was performed for finding out significance difference between domain scores. The findings suggest that the QoL of cancer patients under IPC is lower compared to the QoL of cancer patients under CBPC. A vital issue underpinning this study is the choice of location of care, which depends on a range of factors. Although the research was conducted in Kerala, the findings are relevant to the attention of terminally ill cancer patients worldwide.