Morbidity and mortality after elective cancer surgery-How does recent Covid-19 infection impact outcome: A prospective, comparative study.

Background And Aims: Post-Covid-19 cancer patients are likely to have poor postoperative outcomes following cancer surgeries. This is mainly because of the coexisting risk factors unique to cancer patients like immunosuppression, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy-induced risk of infection and malnutrition. The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative morbidity in cancer patients with and without a history of Covid infection.

Situational analysis of the quality of palliative care services across India: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: Palliative care services in India were established in the 1980s but there is no detailed up-to-date knowledge about the quality-of-service provision nationally. We aim to describe the current quality of palliative care provision in India, as measured against nationally adopted standards.

Method: A digital survey adapted from the Indian Association of Palliative Care Standards Audit Tool was administered to 250 palliative care centres.

"I want to live, but …" the desire to live and its physical, psychological, spiritual, and social factors among advanced cancer patients: evidence from the APPROACH study in India.

Background: The limited access to palliative care resources along with the social stigma around cancer largely explains the poor quality of life (QoL) of Indian advanced cancer patients. As advanced cancer patients with poor QoL often harbour a desire for hastened death (DHD), it is imperative to understand factors affecting DHD, or the desire to live (DTL) among advanced cancer patients in India. We aim to examine the relationship between DTL and physical, psychological, spiritual, and social factors measuring patients' QoL alongside their awareness of their late cancer stage.

Perceived stigma and its correlates among Asian patients with advanced cancer: A multi-country APPROACH study.

Objectives: Perceived cancer-related stigma can affect mental health and potentially treatment choices for patients with cancer. Nevertheless, perceived stigma is not very well understood in Asia. This study investigated across six developing Asian countries: (1) the prevalence of perceived stigma among advanced cancer patients, (2) its risk factors, and (3) its association with patient treatment preferences.

Patient-Reported Roles in Decision-Making Among Asian Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Multicountry Study.

We investigated 1) perceived roles in decision-making among advanced cancer patients in 5 Asian countries 2) associations of patient characteristics with these roles, and 3) the association of perceived roles with quality of life and perceived quality of care. We surveyed 1585 patients with stage IV solid cancer. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to analyze associations of patient characteristics with decision-making roles.

The Burden of Cancer-related Neuropathic Pain: A Multi-centric Cross-sectional Observational Study from North India.

Introduction: Neuropathic cancer pain is a common consequence of cancer itself and anti-cancer treatments. It is a complex phenomenon, often underdiagnosed by physicians or underreported by patients. Its diagnosis and management are usually more challenging than nociceptive pain.

High anxiety and depression scores and mental health service use among South Asian advanced cancer patients: A multi-country study.

Context: Addressing symptoms of anxiety and depression is important in cancer palliative care. However, little information exists on the prevalence of anxiety and depression and mental health service use among advanced cancer patients in South Asia.

Objectives: To examine among South Asian advanced cancer patients, the 1) prevalence of high anxiety and depression scores, 2) factors associated with high anxiety and depression scores, and 3) mental health service use.

Socio-economic inequalities in suffering at the end of life among advanced cancer patients: results from the APPROACH study in five Asian countries.

Background: A systematic understanding of socio-economic inequalities in end-of-life (EOL) suffering among advanced cancer patients is required to inform efforts to reduce these inequalities as part of Universal Health Coverage goals.

Aims: To assess inequalities in multiple domains of EOL suffering among advanced cancer patients - physical, functional, psychological, social, and spiritual -, using two socio-economic status (SES) indicators, education and perceived economic status of the household.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from surveys of stage IV cancer patients (n = 1378) from seven hospitals across five countries (China, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and Myanmar).

An observational study on safety and efficacy of povidone-iodine for pleurodesis in cancer patients.

Introduction: Pleurodesis is a time-honored procedure for malignant effusion as one of the palliative procedures to treat recurrent effusions. Various agents have been used in the past such as tetracycline, talc, bleomycin, and povidone-iodine. This paper aims at evaluating safety and efficacy of povidone-iodine for the procedure.

Creation of Minimum Standard Tool for Palliative Care in India and Self-evaluation of Palliative Care Programs Using It.

Background: It is important to ensure that minimum standards for palliative care based on available resources are clearly defined and achieved.

Aims: (1) Creation of minimum National Standards for Palliative Care for India. (2) Development of a tool for self-evaluation of palliative care organizations.

End of life care policy for the dying: consensus position statement of Indian association of palliative care.

Purpose: To develop an End of Life Care (EOLC) Policy for patients who are dying with an advanced life limiting illness. To improve the quality of care of the dying by limiting unnecessary therapeutic medical interventions, providing access to trained palliative care providers, ensuring availability of essential medications for pain and symptom control and improving awareness of EOLC issues through education initiatives.

Evidence: A review of Country reports, observational studies and key surveys demonstrates that EOLC in India is delivered ineffectively, with a majority of the Indian population dying with no access to palliative care at end of life and essential medications for pain and symptom control.

Induction for classic laryngeal mask airway insertion: Does low-dose fentanyl work?

Background: Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion requires an optimal balance of anesthesia. Propofol with different opioids is a preferred combination. Two doses of fentanyl were compared for the efficacy and side effects.

What does the informal caregiver of a terminally ill cancer patient need? A study from a cancer centre.

Aims: To assess the needs of informal caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Fifty four informal caregivers of patients registered in our palliative care service were interviewed 3-6 months after the death of the patient with the help of a semistructured questionnaire covering the physical, medical, psychological, social, and information domains.

Results: Most of the caregivers were middle aged and had no prior experience of care giving.