ES Perception towards palliative care among patients with pulmonary hypertension in malaysia: a correlation with disease status.
Executive Summary
Sue Kiat Tye
Sue Kiat Tye, Norazlina Susila Razali, Shakila Amira Ahmad Shauqi, Nor Athirah Azeman, Nurul Fazira Basran, Janet Huey Jing Liew and Ming Chern Leong.
Published: Cardiol Young. Apr 2024;34(4):900-905
Background
This article looks at how people in Malaysia with a serious lung condition called pulmonary hypertension feel about palliative care. Palliative care is not about curing the illness, but about making life more comfortable and improving quality of life. Interestingly, the study found that how sick someone is doesn’t necessarily mean they are more willing to accept this kind of care. Instead, patients who have a more positive attitude and who feel supported by their family or doctors are more open to it.
Key Findings:
- Many patients felt uneasy or even fearful about palliative care. Some thought it meant giving up or felt it would interfere with their daily lives.
- However, people who had a more hopeful outlook or who had practical concerns—like needing help with symptoms—were more likely to accept palliative care.
- A majority of patients (63%) said they would feel more comfortable with the idea if it was called “supportive care” instead of “palliative care.”
Conclusion
The study suggests that helping patients manage their emotions and reducing their worries could make them more open to this kind of care. Starting conversations about palliative care earlier, and using more reassuring language, might help patients see it as a positive step toward living better with their illness.
