Palliative Care Manjeri

  This study examines the Quality of Life (QoL) of cancer patients receiving Institutionalized Palliative Care (IPC) and Community-Based Palliative Care (CBPC) in Kerala. Cancer is a major health concern worldwide, causing millions of deaths annually and significantly impacting the physical, psychological, and social well-being of patients. Palliative care is essential in improving the quality of life for cancer patients, particularly in the later stages of the disease. This research highlights the differences in QoL between patients receiving IPC in Thiruvananthapuram and those under CBPC in Malappuram , emphasizing the effectiveness of community-based interventions. The study adopted a comparative and descriptive research design and utilized WHO’s Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Assessment scale for data collection. The sample consisted of 100 respondents , with 50 patients each from IPC and CBPC settings . Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, with a T-test ap...

Religion has re-emerged as a significant force in the political and socio-cultural spheres, with growing interest in its intersections with development. This chapter examines the Islamic activism within the palliative care movement in Malappuram, a Muslim-majority district of Kerala, India, against the backdrop of the state's unique developmental model. The institutionalized delivery of palliative care in Kerala, supported by local communities and both religious and non-religious civil society organizations, has evolved into a mass movement. The study highlights the transformative role of Muslim organizations in this initiative, which represents a shift in their social engagement dynamics. The chapter situates this activism within the broader framework of religious civil society, exploring its interaction with the state amidst neoliberal reforms and decentralization efforts. Kerala's distinctive political and developmental context, including its secular public domain and mult...

Palliative care is a comprehensive approach aimed at enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. By addressing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs, palliative care seeks to alleviate suffering and maintain dignity during challenging times. This research aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitudes toward palliative care among residents of urban and rural areas in the Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 350 households, comprising 185 from urban areas and 165 from rural areas. The senior-most member of each household was interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire, focusing on their awareness, sources of information, and attitudes toward palliative care. The study findings revealed a significant disparity in awareness levels between urban and rural participants. While 13.4% of the total respondents had heard about palliative care, awareness was considerably higher in urb...

The study explores the caregiver burden and quality of life (QoL) among caregivers of palliative care patients in Kerala, India, with a particular focus on aging caregivers. Kerala’s decentralized health governance system, which has been operating for almost three decades, has pioneered a community-driven approach to palliative care. This program heavily depends on family caregivers , who face numerous challenges, including physical, psychological, social, and financial burdens. Despite these challenges, caregiver issues remain under-addressed in the program’s design and implementation. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining a cross-sectional survey of 221 caregivers and in-depth interviews with caregivers and palliative care nurses. The survey utilized tools such as the Achutha Menon Centre Caregiver Burden Inventory and EuroQol EQ-5D-5L to measure caregiver burden and QoL. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with caregivers and nurses, exploring their perc...

The growing need for palliative care globally is especially critical in resource-poor settings, where patients with advanced cancer, AIDS, and other chronic conditions often lack access to treatment. In Kerala, India, the Pain and Palliative Care Society (PPCS) developed a pioneering model for community-based palliative care. Beginning as a small outpatient service in Calicut in 1993, PPCS has expanded into a network of 33 clinics offering free care to patients with terminal illnesses. This model emphasizes community participation, family empowerment, and the use of local resources. Trained volunteers support patients through home care and outpatient services, ensuring holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, and social needs. By 2002, this network was treating approximately 6,000 new patients annually, covering about 25% of the need among newly diagnosed cancer patients. A notable success of this initiative is the " Network Neighborhood for Palliative Care " estab...

The Kerala model of community-based palliative care is often celebrated as a sustainable and inclusive approach to providing holistic healthcare to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. This study explores the sustainability of the Kerala model by examining ten selected palliative care units across the Malappuram and Palakkad districts, focusing on three key dimensions of sustainability: patient care, economic self-sufficiency, and voluntary support. The research highlights how the model ensures uninterrupted, cost-free, and comprehensive care, encompassing physical, psychological, spiritual, and economic support for patients and their families. In Malappuram , where palliative care services are particularly robust, there are approximately 112 palliative care units operated by local self-governments, complemented by an additional 90 community-led or NGO-run units. This extensive network demonstrates Malappuram’s critical role in implementing and sustaining community-based care. T...

This paper examines the conflicts and unintended consequences arising from diverse social conventions within transformative service systems. Using convention theory and a 10-year ethnographic study of a community-based palliative care initiative in Kerala, India , the authors propose a dialectical transformative service system framework . This framework synthesizes the calculative, conflict-ridden regime of justice and the noncalculative, altruistic regime of agape . The regime of justice is built on civic conventions at its core and supported by industrial, inspired, market, domestic, and fame conventions, whereas the regime of agape promotes selfless love and solidarity, transcending transactional relationships. The study enriches transformative service research by providing a micro-level understanding of disputes, their reconciliation, and the role of morality in service delivery, particularly within health and caregiving. The study focuses on the community palliative care mod...