Describing the Characteristics and Symptom Profile of a Group of Urban Patients Experiencing Socioeconomic Inequity and Receiving Palliative Care: A descriptive exploratory analysis
Dublin Core
Title
Describing the Characteristics and Symptom Profile of a Group of Urban Patients Experiencing Socioeconomic Inequity and Receiving Palliative Care: A descriptive exploratory analysis
Subject
Indigenous peoples--Health and hygiene
Creator
Kristen Walker
Electronic Resource Item Type Metadata
Journal Name
Palliative Care & Social Practice
Volume
Vol. 18
Publication Date
2024
Document Type
Journal article
Language
English
Region
Edminton, Canada; Alberta, Canada
Access
Open Access
Abstract
Background: Individuals experiencing socioeconomic inequity have worse health outcomes
and face barriers to palliative and end-of-life care. There is a need to develop palliative care
programs tailored to this underserved population.
Objectives: To understand the characteristics and symptom profiles of a group of urban
patients experiencing socioeconomic inequity and receiving palliative care.
Design: Descriptive exploratory analysis of a patient dataset. The patient dataset was
generated through a pilot research study with patients experiencing socioeconomic inequity
and life-limiting illness who received a community-based palliative care intervention.
Methods: The intervention took place over 1year in the Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy
Team, a community-based urban palliative care clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, serving
persons experiencing socioeconomic inequity. Participants had to be at least 18 years of age,
be able to communicate in English, require palliative care for a life-limiting illness, and be
able to consent to inclusion in the study.
Results: Twenty-five participants were enrolled. Participants predominantly identified as male
and Indigenous, experienced poverty and housing instability, and had metastatic cancer. Our
participants rated their pain, shortness of breath, and anxiety as more severe than the broader
community-based palliative care population in the same city. Most patients died in inpatient
hospices (73%).
Conclusion: Our analysis provides an in-depth picture of an understudied, underserved
population requiring palliative care. Given the higher symptom severity experienced by
participants, our analysis highlights the importance of person-centered palliative care.
We suggest that socioeconomic inequity should be considered in patients with life-limiting
illnesses. Further research is needed to explore palliative care delivery to those facing
socioeconomic inequity.
and face barriers to palliative and end-of-life care. There is a need to develop palliative care
programs tailored to this underserved population.
Objectives: To understand the characteristics and symptom profiles of a group of urban
patients experiencing socioeconomic inequity and receiving palliative care.
Design: Descriptive exploratory analysis of a patient dataset. The patient dataset was
generated through a pilot research study with patients experiencing socioeconomic inequity
and life-limiting illness who received a community-based palliative care intervention.
Methods: The intervention took place over 1year in the Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy
Team, a community-based urban palliative care clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, serving
persons experiencing socioeconomic inequity. Participants had to be at least 18 years of age,
be able to communicate in English, require palliative care for a life-limiting illness, and be
able to consent to inclusion in the study.
Results: Twenty-five participants were enrolled. Participants predominantly identified as male
and Indigenous, experienced poverty and housing instability, and had metastatic cancer. Our
participants rated their pain, shortness of breath, and anxiety as more severe than the broader
community-based palliative care population in the same city. Most patients died in inpatient
hospices (73%).
Conclusion: Our analysis provides an in-depth picture of an understudied, underserved
population requiring palliative care. Given the higher symptom severity experienced by
participants, our analysis highlights the importance of person-centered palliative care.
We suggest that socioeconomic inequity should be considered in patients with life-limiting
illnesses. Further research is needed to explore palliative care delivery to those facing
socioeconomic inequity.
Collection
Citation
Kristen Walker, “Describing the Characteristics and Symptom Profile of a Group of Urban Patients Experiencing Socioeconomic Inequity and Receiving Palliative Care: A descriptive exploratory analysis,” ICMGLT Digital Library, accessed June 12, 2026, https://icmglt.org/library/items/show/474.