Attitude of Volunteers in a Community-Based Palliative Care Program in Puducherry: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study

Authors

  • Sadhana Subramanian JIPMER, Puducherry, India
  • Sarkar Sonali JIPMER, Puducherry, India
  • Mathavaswami Vijayageetha, AIIMS Nagpur, India
  • Kothari Ashutosh Health Systems Transformation Platform, New Delhi, India
  • S Adinarayanan JIPMER, Puducherry, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/bq5mpp34

Keywords:

social care, terminal care, supportive care, home care, bereavement.

Abstract

Objectives :Since 2015, volunteers are being trained in Palliative care at Puducherry to meet the increasing demand. Hence, this study aimed in assessing volunteer’s attitude towards palliative care which will help in promoting the quality of services.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done among volunteers working for palliative care in and around Puducherry.All the 60 volunteers who were available during September-October 2018 were included in the study. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered to capture the socio-demography and attitude.Continuous variables were summarized as median (IQR) and categorical variables were expressed as frequency and percentages.

Results: The study found 36.7 % of the volunteers were in the age group of 31-40 years, 76.7% were females and 78.3% married. About 10% were illiterate, and 35% were daily wage workers. In the domain, attitude towards the patient and the services provided, depression and grief in patients were the two areas that had unfavourable attitude. About 75% positive attitude toward self, however, majority felt caring for a dying person is depressing. The domain on communication with the patient revealed, though 91% felt they have an obligation to tell patients and family members when death is imminent, 78% felt it is discouraging to talk about death to a dying person.

Conclusions : Presently volunteers are coming from only lower socio-economic strata of the society. There’s a need to have greater representation of all sections among volunteers. Enhanced training covering mental health aspects of self and patients needs to be provided. There is a need to advocate for providing more emphasis on community-based services than relying on hospital settings, including enhancing caregivers/family members’ capacities in delivering the care.

Author Biographies

  • Sadhana Subramanian, JIPMER, Puducherry, India

    Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, India

  • Sarkar Sonali, JIPMER, Puducherry, India

    Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, India

  • Mathavaswami Vijayageetha,, AIIMS Nagpur, India

     Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS Nagpur, India

  • Kothari Ashutosh, Health Systems Transformation Platform, New Delhi, India

    Health Systems Transformation Platform, New Delhi, India

  • S Adinarayanan, JIPMER, Puducherry, India

    Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, JIPMER, Puducherry, India

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Published

2025-01-07

How to Cite

Attitude of Volunteers in a Community-Based Palliative Care Program in Puducherry: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study. (2025). Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 16(1), 367-376. https://doi.org/10.37506/bq5mpp34