Awareness and Utilization of Palliative Care Among Advanced Cancer Patients in Asia

CONTEXT To date, little is known about palliative care (PC) awareness and utilization in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate PC awareness and its predictors, utilization of PC services, and perceived utilization barriers among advanced cancer patients from select hospitals in Asian LMICs. METHODS This cross-sectional study analysed data of 759 advanced cancer patients at major hospitals of four LMICs in Asia (i.e., Bangladesh, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam). The predictors of PC awareness were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Overall PC awareness was 30.8% (n=234). Patients with higher education (OR=1.0; CI=1.0,1.1), from upper-middle or high-income households (compared to low-income) (OR=2.0; CI=1.2,3.3), awareness of disease severity (OR=1.5; CI=1.0,2.2), and higher pain severity…