Evidence-Based Palliative Care: Role of Palliative Care Journals

Sir,

I write to you with an immense feeling of enthusiasm and hope to share my views on the role of palliative care journals in evidence-based palliative care (EBPC).[1] Although it is well understood about the role of scholarly journals in evidence-based practice (EBP), recent systematic reviews showed a questionable under-reporting of cancer pain,[2] paediatric palliative care[3] and quality of life[4] in palliative care journals.

The strength of evidence supporting palliative care interventions in end-of-life[5] warrants further high quality publishing process and policy for the palliative care journals, which is dependent upon periodic analysis of reporting characteristics of all aspects of practice, education, research and administration from the biopsychosocial perspective.

Such analyses would facilitate an on-going review of the quality and quantity of evidence-base provided by the journals so that efforts towards betterment are encouraged when and where necessary.

I take my opportunity to thank and congratulate Indian Journal of Palliative Care in this context, being one of the leading journals in the field of palliative care from a developing country, encouraging practitioners from all disciplines and regions in their role as clinicians and authors, in an effort to establish a comprehensive palliative care evidence base. I also propose a need for reporting trend analysis for the Journal with an emphasis on levels of evidence and scientific merit of published articles so far.

I thank the editor and the readers for their time to read and respond to this letter.