Evaluation of symptomatology in planning palliative care

Cross-sectional surveys are a useful tool in planning health care, both in the community and in hospitals. We found that a review of routine case records did not yield sufficient information for planning palliative care services in the hospital environment, and therefore decided to conduct a cross-sectional survey involving random patients attending the outpatient division of the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, India. Three hundred and twelve patients were interviewed, and pain and weight loss were found to be the most prominent symptoms (> 90%). This study indicates that symptomatology has to be addressed in detail while planning palliative care services in a hospital setting. Even with its selection bias, the study provides valuable clues for the adequate organization and continuation of palliative care services.