OUTCOMES, REASONS OF ADMISSIONS AND SYMPTOM PROFILE OF ADVANCED CANCER PATIENTS ADMITTED IN AN INPATIENT PALLIATIVE CARE UNIT IN TERTIARY CANCER CENTRE IN LOW- MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRY- A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

This is a single-centre, prospective observational study conducted at the Inpatient Palliative Care Unit (IPCU) of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. The study aims to assess the outcomes, reasons for admission, and symptom profile of adult patients with advanced cancer admitted to the IPCU over a 12-month period.

A minimum of 55 patients will be enrolled. Symptom burden will be assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale–Revised (ESAS-r) at admission (Day 0), Day 3, and at discharge. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients discharged from the IPCU. Secondary outcomes include reasons for admission, symptom changes during hospitalization, investigations performed, medications used, procedures conducted, length of stay, and 30-day post-discharge survival (assessed via telephonic follow-up).

This study addresses a significant gap in Indian palliative care research by prospectively evaluating IPCU admissions and outcomes in a low- and middle-income country setting, with the goal of improving resource planning and quality of care delivery.