Models of Psychological Assessment in Palliative End-of-Life Care.

India is a nation with diverse social, cultural, and geographic features, housing more than one billion people. Meeting the healthcare demands of such a huge population, especially the impoverished in rural regions, presents significant challenges. It should come as no surprise that psycho-oncology is a niche field that is not yet widely available given this background. The challenge is to create a system that is acceptable and appropriate for cultural and socioeconomic contexts. This system should address psychological concerns and long-term care needs while being affordable for most individuals who require it. Psychological distress is often an under-diagnosed problem in cancer care. Addressing psychosocial issues would enhance treatment compliance, physician-patient relationship, efficacy, and quality of life. The book emphasizes the importance of integrating psycho-oncology assessment in cancer care and attempts to define the various roles that a psycho-oncologist can play across the entire trajectory. The book provides experiences from an Indian perspective, keeping in view the unique sociocultural, economic, and traditional society and practices.