Feasibility and acceptability of telephone-based psychological support for metastatic cancer patients in Indian palliative care: An experimental study.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the accessibility and acceptability of implementing a telephone-based psychological support intervention for patients with metastatic cancer in the Indian palliative care settings.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The present single centered experimental study was conducted on 181 adult metastatic cancer patients who were referred to the pain and palliative medicine department by medical oncologists at a tertiary hospital, India. The patients were purposely assigned to two groups: In Group-A 90, patients received a combination of palliative and psychological support. In Group-B, 91 patients received only structured palliative care. As per the department protocol, patients in each group were followed up on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Before each session, patients completed questionnaires that are based on disease-related symptoms and psychological well-being.

RESULTS

It was found out that patients with telephone based psychological support integrated with palliative care has shown gradual improvement in physical and psychological symptoms from day 7 to day 28 when compared to the control group with p-value < 0.05. Additionally, 67% of patients continued their follow-up with the psychologist, indicating the accessibility and acceptability of the treatment. Furthermore, 87% of patients preferred voice calls over video calls because of the limited internet access (N = 72%).

CONCLUSION

Therefore, it can be concluded that the combined approach of pain management through palliative care and continuous telephone based psychological support has contributed to their holistic well-being.

SIGNIFICANCE OF

RESULTS

The findings highlight that integrating telephone-based psychological support within palliative care services is both feasible and acceptable for patients with metastatic cancer in India. This approach not only improves physical and psychological outcomes but also enhances the continuity of care, especially in resource-limited settings where in-person psychological services may not always be accessible.