End of Life Physical Problems of Patients

India, with a population of over a billion people, is a country of varying social, cultural and geographic characteristics. There are real problems in meeting the health care needs of such a large population, particularly, the poor in rural areas. Managing their end of life issues would be a difficult task, especially in the case of chronic, debilitating illness like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The available data show that patients are still receiving inadequate end-of-life care. Palliative Care represents an important resource in the completion of good medical care which can help to take the best care of patients and their families. The availability of palliative care is very limited in much of the world

The current study has been undertaken to know the End of Life Physical Problems of Patients in Chottanikkara Panchayt, Keralabefore and last one year of their death.

For the purpose of study, 50 respondents were selected as samples by adopting convenience sampling method. Analysis was done via statistical software 17.0. using statistical tool, viz. One Way ANOVA(Post Hoc Test Tukey HSD).

Study revealed that 36% of the patients were suffering from the problems of old age and disability and34% of them were suffering from cancer. There was no significant difference in the physical problem, viz. bed sore, Agitation, Dehydration, Constipation, Cachexia, Loss of function, Dyspnea(except cancer patients and patients suffering from Problems of Old Age and Disability) suffered by the patients suffering from different types of diseases before one year to last 2 weeks of their death. There was no significant difference in the physical problem-Nausea suffered by the Cancer patients and patients with Spinal injuries and Dyspnea suffered by the cancer patients and patients suffering from Problems of Old Age and Disability and Vomiting suffered by the Cancer patients and patients with Chronic Liver Disease before one year to last two weeks of their death. There was a significant difference in the physical problem-Nausea‘ suffered by the cancer patients when compared to patients suffering from Problems of old age and Disability and Chronic Kidney Disease and Vomiting suffered by cancer patients and patients suffering from Problems of Old Age and Disability Chronic Kidney Disease, before one year to last 2 weeks of their death.

There was a significant difference in the physical problem-Nausea‘ suffered by the cancer patients when compared to patients suffering from Problems of old age and Disability and Chronic Kidney Disease and Vomiting suffered by cancer patients and patients suffering from Problems of Old Age and Disability Chronic Kidney Disease, before one year to last 2 weeks of their death.