Psychosocial Issues Research Articles

A Transformative Journey Through Support Group Participation: Narratives of the Wives of Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder.

The issue of alcohol use disorder (AUD) has received significant attention, with a primary focus on individuals directly afflicted by the disorder. This extensive focus, while necessary, often overlooks the profound impact that AUD has on the family unit, particularly on spouses who play a crucial role in the dynamics of coping and recovery. However, the psychosocial and emotional challenges encountered by wives of those with AUD have been largely neglected in both research and therapeutic interventions. This oversight not only minimizes their suffering but also overlooks their potential contribution to the recovery process, underscoring the need for a more inclusive approach to understanding and addressing AUD. Building upon this foundation, the current study delves into the less explored terrain of the psychosocial and emotional ramifications borne by wives of individuals suffering from AUD. By highlighting the pivotal role that these women fulfil in family dynamics, it seeks to shed light on the transformative effects of their engagement in support groups, aiming to demonstrate how these networks promote resilience, empowerment, and healing for both the women and their families, thus offering a more comprehensive perspective on AUD's impact on society. Employing a qualitative narrative research design, the study utilized purposive sampling to select 36 participants from the northern, southern, and central regions of Kerala, India. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews, conducted initially in the local language, were transcribed into English and analyzed using the constant comparative method, ensuring that ethical considerations were upheld throughout the research process. The results of the study illuminatethe multifaceted challenges faced by wives of individuals with AUD, including financial burdens, domestic violence, marital discord, and psychosocial issues. Notably, the participants reported a significant positive shift in their lives following their involvement in support groups, experiencing enhanced mental peace and tranquillity. This transformation enabled some participants to resume their education, engage with the community as role models and leaders, and reconstruct their lives. Most participants viewed their support group participation as a pivotal moment of hope restoration in their lives. The study reveals the necessity for integrating culturally sensitive support mechanisms into rehabilitation programs for families affected by AUD, advocating for broader adoption of support groups that cater to the specific sociocultural dynamics of affected communities.

Effects of medication management in geriatric patients who have fallen: results of the EMMA mixed-methods study.

comprehensive medication management (CMM) can reduce medication-related risks of falling. However, knowledge about inter-individual treatment effects and patient-related barriers remains scarce. to gain in-depth insights into how geriatric patients who have fallen view their medication-related risks of falling and to identify effects and barriers of a CMM in preventing falls. complementary mixed-methods pre-post study, based on an embedded quasi-experimental model. geriatric fracture centre. qualitative, semi-structured interviews framed the CMM intervention, including a follow-up period of 12weeks. Interviews explored themes of falling, medication-related risks, post-discharge acceptability and sustainability of interventions using qualitative content analysis. Optimisation of pharmacotherapy was assessed via changes in the weighted and summated Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) score, number of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRID) and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) according to the Fit fOR The Aged and PRISCUS lists using parametric testing. thirty community-dwelling patients aged ≥65years, taking ≥5 drugs and admitted after an injurious fall were recruited. The MAI was significantly reduced, but number of FRID and PIM remained largely unchanged. Many patients were open to medication reduction/discontinuation, but expressed fear when it came to their personal medication. Psychosocial issues and pain increased the number of indications. Safe alternatives for FRID were frequently not available. Psychosocial burden of living alone, fear, lack of supportive care and insomnia increased after discharge. as patients' individual attitudes towards trauma and medication were not predictable, an individual and longitudinal CMM is required. A standardised approach is not helpful in this population.

Patterns of follow-up care in adult blood cancer survivors-Prospective evaluation of health-related outcomes, resource use, and quality of life.

Information about follow-up care in blood cancer survivors is limited. The questionnaire-based "Aftercare in Blood Cancer Survivors" (ABC) study aimed to identify patterns of follow-up care in Germany and compare different types of follow-up institutions. The study's 18-month prospective part compared the follow-up institutions identified in the preceding retrospective part (academic oncologists, community oncologists, primary care physicians). The questionnaires were completed by the follow-up physicians. Of 1070 physicians named by 1479 blood-cancer survivors, 478 (44.7%) consented to participate. For provision of care, most oncologists relied on published guidelines, while most primary care physicians depended on information from other physicians. Survivors with a history of allogeneic transplantation or indolent lymphoma were mainly seen by academic oncologists, whereas survivors with monoclonal gammopathy, multiple myeloma, or myeloproliferative disorders were often seen by community oncologists, and survivors with a history of aggressive lymphoma or acute leukemia by primary care physicians. Detection of relapse and secondary diseases was consistently viewed as the most important follow-up goal. Follow-up visits were most extensively documented by academic oncologists (574 of 1045 survivors cared for, 54.9%), followed by community oncologists (90/231, 39.0%) and primary care physicians (51/203, 25.1%). Relapse and secondary disease detection rates and the patients' quality of life were similar at the three institutions. Laboratory tests were most often ordered by academic oncologists, and imaging by primary care physicians. Psychosocial issues and preventive care were more often addressed by primary care physicians than by oncologists. Patients at high risk of relapse or late complications were preferentially treated by academic oncologists, while patients in stable condition requiring continuous monitoring were also seen by community oncologists, and patients with curable diseases in long-term remission by primary care physicians. For the latter, transfer of follow-up care from oncologists to well-informed primary care providers appears feasible.

Development and Validation of Scale of Psychosocial Issues for Patients With Migraine

Development and Validation of Scale of Psychosocial Issues for Patients With Migraine

Evaluation of the implementation of a "Pediatric Feasibility Assessment for Transplantation" tool in children and adolescents at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Kidney transplantation remains the treatment of choice for children with kidney failure (KF). In South Africa, kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is restricted to children eligible for transplantation. This study reports on the implementation of the Paediatric Feasibility Assessment for Transplantation (pFAT) tool, a psychosocial risk score developed in South Africa to support transparent transplant eligibility assessment in a low-resource setting. Single-center retrospective descriptive analysis of children assessed for KRT using pFAT tool from 2015 to 2021. Using the pFAT form, 88 children (median [range] age 12.0 [1.1 to 19.0] years) were assessed for KRT. Thirty (34.1%) children were not listed for KRT, scoring poorly in all domains, and were referred for supportive palliative care. Fourteen of these 30 children (46.7%) died, with a median survival of 6 months without dialysis. Nine children were reassessed and two were subsequently listed. Residing >300 km from the hospital (p = .009) and having adherence concerns (p = .003) were independently associated with nonlisting. Of the 58 (65.9%) children listed for KRT, 40 (69.0%) were transplanted. One-year patient and graft survival were 97.2% and 88.6%, respectively. Only one of the four grafts lost at 1-year posttransplant was attributed to psychosocial issues. Short-term outcomes among children listed using the pFAT form are good. Among those nonlisted, the pFAT highlights specific psychosocial/socioeconomic barriers, over which most children themselves have no power to change, which should be systemically addressed to permit eligibility of more children and save lives.

Pragmatic implementation of comprehensive dementia care management: The Cedars-Sinai C.A.R.E.S. Program preliminary data.

The United States faces a growing challenge with over 6.5 million people living with dementia (PLwD). PLwD and their caregivers struggle with cognitive, functional, behavioral, and psychosocial issues. As dementia care shifts to home settings, caregivers receive inadequate support but bear increasing responsibilities, leading to higher healthcare costs. In response, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the Guiding an Improving Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. The study explores the real-world implementation of the Cedars-Sinai C.A.R.E.S. Program, a pragmatic dementia care model, detailing its recruitment process and initial outcomes. The Cedars-Sinai C.A.R.E.S. Program was integrated into the Epic electronic health record system and focused on proactive patient identification, engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, care transitions, and ongoing care management. Eligible patients with a dementia diagnosis were identified through electronic health record and invited to join the program. Nurse practitioners with specialized training in dementia care performed comprehensive assessments using the CEDARS-6 tool, leading to personalized care plans developed in consultation with primary care providers. Patients benefited from a multidisciplinary team and support from care navigators. Of the 781 eligible patients identified, 431 were enrolled in the C.A.R.E.S. Enrollees were racially diverse, with lower caregiver strain and patient behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) severity compared to other programs dementia care programs. Healthcare utilization, including hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) admissions, and urgent care visits showed a downward trend over time. Completion of advanced directives and Physician Order of Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) increased after enrollment. The Cedars-Sinai C.A.R.E.S. Program offers a promising approach to dementia care. Its real-world implementation demonstrates the feasibility of enrolling a diverse population and achieving positive outcomes for PLwD and their caregivers, supporting the goals of national dementia care initiatives.

A Dimensional Analysis of School Connectedness in Adolescents Newly Diagnosed With Cancer.

Background: Adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer must navigate medical, psychosocial, and educational issues when confronting this life-threatening illness. Frequent hospitalizations and intense therapy disrupt attendance at school and social events. Research supports that school connectedness is a protective factor associated with improved adolescent health, psychological, and academic outcomes. However, this phenomenon is understudied in adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer. Method: This qualitative inquiry used a dimensional analysis method to uncover the nature of school connectedness in adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer prior to school reentry. Semistructured interviews with 19 adolescents explored school relationships and experiences at the time of cancer diagnosis. Data collection and inductive analysis occurred simultaneously. Results: Analysis revealed four key dimensions: "School Days and Ways," "The Boom," "The Pause," and "Connection Reconciliation: Me, You, and Learning." Additionally, "Social Scenes," "Shared Experiences," and "Seeing and Being With" emerged as subdimensions of "School Days and Ways." All adolescents in this study described being negatively impacted by the cancer experience with universal disruption in school relationships and diminished school connections. However, the desire to restore unraveled or broken relationships and reconcile connections with self, others from the school, and learning were highly salient. Discussion: This research uncovers the meaning and context of school connectedness prior to and following a cancer diagnosis, illuminating a deeper understanding of the impact of a cancer diagnosis on adolescents, school relationships, and learning. The findings provide direction in supporting adolescents as they confront the physical, psychosocial, and educational disruptions caused by their cancer.

The impact of age on outcome 2 years after traumatic brain injury: Case control study

BackgroundAge is associated with outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, there are mixed findings across outcome domains and most studies lack controls. ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study examined the association between age group (15–24 years, 25–34 years, 35–44 years, 45–54 years, 55–64 years, and 65 years or more) and outcomes 2 years after TBI in independence in daily activities, driving, public transportation use, employment, leisure activities, social integration, relationships and emotional functioning, relative to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that older individuals with TBI would have significantly poorer outcomes than controls in all domains except anxiety and depression, for which it was expected they would show better outcomes. Global functional outcome (measured using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended) was also examined, and we hypothesized that older adults would have poorer outcomes than younger adults. MethodsParticipants were 1897 individuals with TBI (mean, SD age 36.7, 17.7 years) who completed measures 2 years post-injury and 110 healthy controls (age 38.3, 17.5 years). ResultsCompared to controls, individuals with TBI were less independent in most activities of daily living, participated less in leisure activities and employment, and were more socially isolated, anxious and depressed (p < 0.001). Those who were older in age were disproportionately less likely to be independent in light domestic activities, shopping and driving; and participated less in occupational activities relative to controls. Functional outcome was significantly higher in the youngest age group than in all older age groups (p < 0.001), but the younger groups were more likely to report being socially isolated (p < 0.001), depressed (p = 0.005) and anxious (p = 0.02), and less likely to be married or in a relationship (p < 0.001). ConclusionA greater focus is needed on addressing psychosocial issues in younger individuals with TBI, whereas those who are older may require more intensive therapy to maximise independence in activities of daily living and return to employment.

Toxicity in gendered Sepedi proverbs: A textual analysis

This article examines some linguistic features of Sepedi proverbs. The aim is to shed light on how toxic masculinity is manifested in proverbs and to contribute to the emerging research on masculinity. A literature search was first carried out on language use perceived to be contributing to injurious or toxic behaviour from men, barriers to help-seeking behaviour in men and the strategies they use to deal with their psychosocial issues. A collection of proverbs was then analysed according to their structural features. A hybrid descriptive-explanatory qualitative approach was used in analysing and describing the data. The proverbs’ analytic framework involved the semantic analysis of proverbs and three classes of meaning were identified, i.e. a literally translated meaning, a textual meaning and a figurative meaning. The first part of the analysis revealed similar structural properties according to different grammatical structures followed in the proverbs. The second part involved a more abstract level of analysis which was evaluative. Proverbs were categorised according to their potential impact on the formation of attitudes and norms of behaviour in a culture based on a continuum of toxicity. Some proverbs were determined to be harmful, while others were insensitive or discriminatory.

Social Media - A New Chapter in Social Problems or A New Technique to Study Social Problems

The term "Mass Media" has been drastically replaced by “Social Media” and the change has made the greatest impact in our society. With the advancement in technology especially in the field of communication, knowledge dissemination process through social media has been widely affected. The degree of accessibility and validity of particular knowledge shared through social media remains questionable as it challenges the fundamental way of knowledge generation, knowledge sharing and knowledge validation process. Though through social media, knowledge is spread in faster and swift manner but unsupervised use of social media remains at centre as a propeller to new age social problems associated with it. Because of this, social media has been considered both as a “subject” and a “tool” when it comes to understand social problems. It felt important to take this study from the social work perspective in order to understand how social work academician operationalise “social media”. A qualitative study was taken up with students and teachers associated with social work institutions based in Gujarat with an objective to see their views on social media. The study explored if the social media was considered as an add-on to existing social problems in the syllabus and society or they considered the social media as a platform to study existing social problems; more specifically psychosocial issues. This study takes a critical take on social media as a tool to be used in their field work and as one of the associated learning methods to learn social work practice.

The effectiveness of therapeutic craft-making activities in treating lower-third forearm fracture: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundOccupational Therapists use craft-making activities as therapeutic interventions to improve physical and psychological functioning of injured people. Despite the therapeutic effects, craft-making is not routinely used in hand rehabilitation as an intervention for patients with upper limb fractures. These patients often experience physical and psychosocial issues; however, without supportive evidence, therapists hesitate to integrate craft-making into upper limb rehabilitation.PurposeThis study aims to determine the effect of a conventional therapy combined with therapeutic craft-making on disability, post-traumatic stress, and physical performance in patients with lower-third forearm fractures.MethodsPriori analysis determined that 38 patients will be needed for this superiority randomized controlled trial to be conducted in a hand and upper limb rehabilitation center. Eligible participants must comprehend English, be diagnosed with lower-third forearm fracture(s) stabilized by open reduction internal fixation, and referred to therapy within 2–4 weeks of surgery. Following the CONSORT guidelines, participants will be randomly assigned to a Control (conventional therapy) group or an Intervention (conventional therapy and craft) group. Twice weekly for 6 weeks, Therapist A will provide both groups with 1-h of conventional therapy while the Intervention group will also receive 15 min of craft-making supervised by the Researcher. The primary outcome of disability will be measured with the Quick-Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand. The secondary outcome measurements include the Patient-Rated-Wrist-Evaluation; Impact of Event Scale-revised and physical performance, i.e., the Purdue Pegboard Test, AROM, and grip strength. All outcome measures will be obtained by Therapist B prior to the 1st therapy visit and after the 12th visit. Descriptive analysis will be done for the categorical and continuous data and a mixed model ANOVA for analysis of the initial and final assessment scores within and between groups.ResultsThis study is ongoing.DiscussionThe intent of this study is to determine if therapeutic crafts have value as an intervention when used in combination with conventional therapy for patients with lower-third forearm fractures. If the value of crafts is supported, this evidence may reduce hesitancy of therapists to implement craft-making with patients referred to hand therapy after upper limb fracture.ConclusionThis study is ongoing.Trial registrationANZCTR, ACTRN12622000150741. Retrospectively registered on 28 January 2022 https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382676&isReview=true..

Association Between Psychosocial Acuity and Glycemic Control in a Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Clinic.

The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency of psychosocial risk and its associations with glycemic levels in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) seen by social work staff during regular clinical care. A retrospective longitudinal analysis of observational clinical data was conducted. Individuals (1-26 years) with known T1D who were seen at a pediatric diabetes clinic in a US academic medical center between 2014 and 2021 were included. Variables included psychosocial acuity, A1C, and demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and mixed linear regressions were used to examine associations between demographic variables, psychosocial acuity, and A1C. Of 966 patients, 513 (53.1%) were male, 76 (7.9%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 804 (83.2%) were non-Hispanic White. There was a mean of 6.9 annual social work encounters per patient, with 3 psychosocial domains measured at each visit. Results showed that as psychosocial acuity level increased, glycemic control decreased. There were significant differences in A1C according to race/ethnicity, insurance, age, and psychosocial acuity. In a real-world clinical population, psychosocial acuity was associated with glycemic control. Presenting for psychosocial issues in their diabetes clinic was associated with reduced glycemic control among youth with T1D. There is an opportunity to connect pediatric patients with appropriate mental health services and psychosocial supports.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of a Peer Support Intervention in Universities

ABSTRACT A growing number of postsecondary institutions offer peer support interventions to promote mental health among their students. However, little is known about the key factors that influence the implementation of this type of intervention. This study explored barriers and facilitators to implementing an online peer support program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy aimed at reducing stress and anxiety among students of three universities in Montreal, Canada. Peer supporters were asked to complete a survey containing open-ended questions at the end of each semester. Interviews were also conducted with the program coordinator, three psychologists who acted as supervisors, and 14 peer supporters. The data were analysed with an inductive and a deductive approach using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Perceived barriers to the implementation of the intervention included technical problems with the videoconferencing platform, psychosocial and comorbidity issues among peers, recruitment difficulties, and communication concerns between stakeholders. Key perceived facilitators were the theoretical and empirical foundations of the intervention, the support offered by directors, and the process used to recruit, select, and supervise peer supporters. Based on the results of this study, practical recommendations are provided for researchers and practitioners interested in implementing online peer support initiatives in postsecondary institutions.

Designing an accessible and equitable conference and the evaluation of the barriers to research inclusion for rare disease communities

Introduction: The United Kingdom Rare Diseases Framework, published in 2021, addresses the lack of diversity in rare disease research, particularly in clinical trials, due to intersecting issues related to rare disease symptoms and health inequalities. The framework outlines the government's commitment to improving the lives of the 3.5 million people living with rare conditions in the United Kingdom.Objective: The primary objective is to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion in research by developing innovative methods to engage with communities, establish trust, and enhance the participation and voices of underrepresented and underserved communities.Methods: The conference was held in May 2023, bringing together voices with lived experiences from rare and diverse communities to meet and discuss with established researchers, policy influencers and advocates. The evaluation design was developed using the Program Logic Model and utilised a conference evaluation form on barriers to inclusion.Results: The Rare Disease Community identifies disability as the primary obstacle to inclusion. Social Care and Public Health Communities and Clinical Research Communities identified a need for more cultural competency. The Diverse Community selected psychosocial issues, and the Academic Community identified funding as the most significant barrier.Conclusions: The Community of Practice workshops showed the variety of lived experiences and potential barriers people confront for inclusion in research. Listening to individual viewpoints was crucial to creating or repairing community trust. The Academic Community felt that research funders and ethics review boards must adapt their institutional practices to include financial resources for outreach and participation in research design.

Psychosocial Factors Issues in Construction Workers: A Systematic Review and Future Research Directions

Psychosocial Factors Issues in Construction Workers: A Systematic Review and Future Research Directions

The effects of physicien attire on consultation outcomes in primary health care, National Guard, Riyadh

Introduction A good Physician- patient relationship is the core of a successful primary health care. It is characterized by a two way interactions between the physician and the patient, where the patient is involved in the decision making(1) . The relationship between the physician and the patient can interfere significantly with the treatment adherence(2) . So it is necessary for the physician to work on building and preserving a good relationship from the first moment. The first impression is important to optimize healthcare outcomes(3) . Physician appearances, gender, nationality, age, speech and posture were found to affect patient’s first impression(3) . Also, it is found that once the first impression been developed, it will remain unchanged – most of the times- (3) . Gender preferences found to increase patient satisfaction in some settings(4) . For the intimate, and psychosocial issues, it is found to be preferred to have a physician of the same gender as a patient (4) . For the age preference, some studies found that patients preferred the physician to be between 30- 50 years (5) . Physician appearances is also an important factor affecting patient perception of the care provided (1)

Autism and general anesthesia for dental care

Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability. Infantile autism is associated with a characteristic cognitive, language and behavioral features. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have lifelong effects on areas of individual daily life functioning such as learning, relationships and independence. The future of anesthetic management of ASD will depend on how well we understand the etiology, psycho-social and medical issues with the disease. A wide spectrum of medical and behavioral symptoms is exhibited by children with autism, which makes routine dental care very difficult in them. Autism is a neurobehavioral and cognitive disorder characterized by impaired development of interpersonal and communication skills, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors. American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry's guidelines on Caries Risk Assessment has categorized them under High risk for physicians and other nondental health care providers and Moderate risk for dental providers. Attitude and knowledge of the oral health care professionals are of utmost importance while rendering oral health care to such children. The treatment rendered currently provides a long-term benefit for the patient. More focus had to be given for the long-term maintenance of oral health in special children. A 24-year-old autistic child with a history of seizures came to the operating room where he received general anesthesia for dental work. The awakening was particularly slow, as the patient's condition was characterized as severe autism with the corresponding medication, which interacts with the anesthetic drugs and makes awakening difficult.

Des enjeux psychologiques et sociaux de femmes auteures d’un néonaticide : solitude, déni de grossesse et fragilités de la personnalité

This interview between professors Jean-Pierre Bouchard and Suzanne Léveillée focuses on the psychosocial issues of women who have undergone neonaticide. This type of intrafamilial homicide is particularly difficult to understand and the number of cases is almost impossible to determine. These women give birth in secret, and the people around them had not observed their physical change. A psychosocial portrait is drawn up and some elements of understanding are highlighted in this text. The denial of pregnancy, the extreme loneliness of these women and mental health issues allow us to better understand them. Clinical vignettes are developed to identify some elements of these women's life trajectories as well as to set out some avenues for prevention.

Pelvic Floor Disorders Among Minority Women: Differences in Prevalence, Severity and Health-Related Social Needs

ObjectiveTo characterize prevalence and severity of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) in various healthcare settings and to examine unmet Health-related Social Needs (HRSN) among minority women. Materials and MethodsMinority women with PFDs were recruited from our academic urogynecology clinic (UG), a general urology clinic at our institution’s safety net hospital (SNH), and a community outreach mobile clinic (MC). Questions from the Urinary Distress Index-6 (UDI), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (POPDI), and Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI) were used to identify patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Results61 (46.6%) women identified as Hispanic, 53 (40.4%) as Black, and 17 (12.9%) as Other. Overall, self-reported PFDs included SUI in 45%, OAB in 74.8%, and CPPS in 24.4% of women. Hispanic women were more likely to report OAB symptoms, compared to Black women (OR 3.4 [1.2-10.2], p = 0.03) or Other women (OR = 5.1 [1.3-20.4], p = 0.02). Participants held a median of five unmet HRSN. Minority women facing issues with family and community support, transportation, and utilities were more likely to report CPPS symptoms, compared to those without psychosocial issues (Support OR: 4.8 [1.7-13.7], p = 0.002; Transportation OR: 2.0 [1.0-8.2], p = 0.05; Utility OR: 7.0 [1.9-28.1], p = 0.005). ConclusionMinority women with PFDs may have several unmet HRSNs which impact their ability to receive appropriate medical care. Our findings may assist in the development of effective strategies to improve healthcare outcomes for women dealing with PFDs.

Assessment of Knowledge on Palliative Care among the Community Health Officers in Rural Area of Purba Medinipur District, West Bengal, India.

Palliative care deals with patients who are facing problems of life-threatening diseases. Under the Ayushman Bharat programme, a new cadre of Community Health Officers (CHOs) is provisioned at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) who are nursing graduates. Being the team leader at the HWC level, having a low level of knowledge of palliative care would compromise their service. The study assessed the knowledge of CHOs about palliative care services in a rural district of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design was carried out among 314 CHOs posted in different HWCs of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, during July-August' 2022. We used to collect data based on questionnaires of 'Palliative-Care-Knowledge Questionnaire-Basic' comprising items related to palliative care, the requirement of palliative care, pain management, communication, and dealing with psychosocial issues. A chi-square test was performed to check the association with educational- and experience-related variables and knowledge. Overall, adequate knowledge was present in 216 (68.8%) and inadequate knowledge in 98 (31.2%) of CHOs. Improper knowledge was present regarding the role of oxygen supplementation in dying patients, the need for palliative care in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chronic non-malignant diseases, pain management, and communication about the prognosis of disease. The proportion of CHOs who had adequate knowledge who were highly educated (70%) and those who had previous job as CHO (73.3%). Almost similar knowledge scores were found among those who ever cared for or never cared for either terminally ill patients (P = 0.89) or cancer patients (P = 0.853). In-depth knowledge was lacking among the CHOs. Training and re-training of CHOs to develop technical and communication skills will help them deliver proper palliative care.