scholarly journals Early integration of palliative care services with standard oncology care for patients with advanced cancer

2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 349-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Greer ◽  
Vicki A. Jackson ◽  
Diane E. Meier ◽  
Jennifer S. Temel
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Early Integration ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Oncology Care

Timing of referral to inpatient palliative care services for advanced cancer patients and earlier referral predictors in mainland China

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Gu ◽  
Wenwu Cheng ◽  
Menglei Chen ◽  
Minghui Liu ◽  
Zhe Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Early Integration ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Common Diagnosis ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Chinese Cancer Patients

AbstractObjective:Routine early integration of palliative care with advanced cancer management is not yet a part of standard practice in many countries, including mainland China. Whether patients in China suffering from advanced cancer are referred to palliative care services in a timely manner remains unclear. We sought to investigate the timing of palliative care referral of Chinese cancer patients at our center and its predictors.Method:Retrospective medical data including demographic characteristics and referral information were collected for analysis. A total of 759 patients referred to our palliative care unit (PCU) from January of 2007 to December of 2013 were included in the final analysis.Results:The mean age of the 759 patients included in the study was 62.89 years (range 61.95–63.82). Some 369 patients (48.6%) were male and 559 (73.6%) Shanghainese (indigenous). Lung cancer (17.9%) was the most common diagnosis. The time interval since enrollment into the PCU until a patient's death (length of stay, LOS) was calculated. A longer LOS indicated earlier referral to inpatient PC services. The median LOS was 21 days (CI95% = 19.79–22.21). Multivariate analysis showed that whether or not the patient was indigenous (p = 0.002) and younger than 65 (p = 0.031) were independent factors for a longer LOS. Such other characteristics as gender and primary cancer type bore no relationship to LOS.Significance of results:Our findings demonstrate that Chinese cancer patients are referred relatively late in the course of their disease to inpatient palliative care services. To overcome the barriers to early integration of palliative care into a patient's treatment plan, accurate information about palliative care must be provided to both oncologists and patients via comprehensive and systematic educational programs.

Integration of Palliative Care Into Standard Oncology Care: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty R. Ferrell ◽  
Jennifer S. Temel ◽  
Sarah Temin ◽  
Erin R. Alesi ◽  
Tracy A. Balboni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Clinical Oncology ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Teams ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Secondary Analyses ◽  
Oncology Care ◽  
American Society

Purpose To provide evidence-based recommendations to oncology clinicians, patients, family and friend caregivers, and palliative care specialists to update the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) provisional clinical opinion (PCO) on the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care for all patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods ASCO convened an Expert Panel of members of the ASCO Ad Hoc Palliative Care Expert Panel to develop an update. The 2012 PCO was based on a review of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by the National Cancer Institute Physicians Data Query and additional trials. The panel conducted an updated systematic review seeking randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, as well as secondary analyses of RCTs in the 2012 PCO, published from March 2010 to January 2016. Results The guideline update reflects changes in evidence since the previous guideline. Nine RCTs, one quasiexperimental trial, and five secondary analyses from RCTs in the 2012 PCO on providing palliative care services to patients with cancer and/or their caregivers, including family caregivers, were found to inform the update. Recommendations Inpatients and outpatients with advanced cancer should receive dedicated palliative care services, early in the disease course, concurrent with active treatment. Referral of patients to interdisciplinary palliative care teams is optimal, and services may complement existing programs. Providers may refer family and friend caregivers of patients with early or advanced cancer to palliative care services.

Impact and timing of palliative care referral.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 50-50
Author(s):  
Leslie J Blackhall ◽  
Paul W Read ◽  
George Stukenborg ◽  
Margaret Barclay ◽  
Patrick M Dillon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Early Integration ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Palliative Care Services

50 Background: Recent studies suggest that early integration of palliative care services into the care of patients with advanced cancer can improve end of life care. Unfortunately, there are insufficient resources for all advanced cancer to see palliative care from time of diagnosis. This 2012 CMS innovation award is attempting to improve identification of cancer patients in need of palliative care. Methods: In Year 1 of this award, increased staffing was added to existing palliative care resources to improve access. Patients were referred at discretion of their oncologist. A control group consisting of patients with similar diagnoses not referred to palliative care was identified including those without any contact with palliative care, and those who only saw palliative care in the hospitalization prior to death. Data regarding hospitalization in the last month of life, and hospice utilization was obtained. Results: Median time between referral to palliative care clinic and death was 72.5 days (mean 112). See table below. Conclusions: These data suggest patients referred to palliative care clinic within 3 months of death had benefits similar referral at time of diagnosis. However, many patients were never referred or referred only at the very end of life. The next phases of this award will utilize patient-reported outcome data to better identify those who need palliative care. Although most palliative care services are hospital-based, in this study, in-patient consultation only was too late to provide much benefit for these patients. Re-focusing scarce palliative care resources to the out-patient setting may have greater impact on patient care. [Table: see text]

American Society of Clinical Oncology Provisional Clinical Opinion: The Integration of Palliative Care Into Standard Oncology Care

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 880-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Smith ◽  
Sarah Temin ◽  
Erin R. Alesi ◽  
Amy P. Abernethy ◽  
Tracy A. Balboni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Clinical Oncology ◽  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Expert Consensus ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Oncology Care ◽  
American Society

Purpose An American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) provisional clinical opinion (PCO) offers timely clinical direction to ASCO's membership following publication or presentation of potentially practice-changing data from major studies. This PCO addresses the integration of palliative care services into standard oncology practice at the time a person is diagnosed with metastatic or advanced cancer. Clinical Context Palliative care is frequently misconstrued as synonymous with end-of-life care. Palliative care is focused on the relief of suffering, in all of its dimensions, throughout the course of a patient's illness. Although the use of hospice and other palliative care services at the end of life has increased, many patients are enrolled in hospice less than 3 weeks before their death, which limits the benefit they may gain from these services. By potentially improving quality of life (QOL), cost of care, and even survival in patients with metastatic cancer, palliative care has increasing relevance for the care of patients with cancer. Until recently, data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating the benefits of palliative care in patients with metastatic cancer who are also receiving standard oncology care have not been available. Recent Data Seven published RCTs form the basis of this PCO. Provisional Clinical Opinion Based on strong evidence from a phase III RCT, patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer should be offered concurrent palliative care and standard oncologic care at initial diagnosis. While a survival benefit from early involvement of palliative care has not yet been demonstrated in other oncology settings, substantial evidence demonstrates that palliative care—when combined with standard cancer care or as the main focus of care—leads to better patient and caregiver outcomes. These include improvement in symptoms, QOL, and patient satisfaction, with reduced caregiver burden. Earlier involvement of palliative care also leads to more appropriate referral to and use of hospice, and reduced use of futile intensive care. While evidence clarifying optimal delivery of palliative care to improve patient outcomes is evolving, no trials to date have demonstrated harm to patients and caregivers, or excessive costs, from early involvement of palliative care. Therefore, it is the Panel's expert consensus that combined standard oncology care and palliative care should be considered early in the course of illness for any patient with metastatic cancer and/or high symptom burden. Strategies to optimize concurrent palliative care and standard oncology care, with evaluation of its impact on important patient and caregiver outcomes (eg, QOL, survival, health care services utilization, and costs) and on society, should be an area of intense research. NOTE. ASCO's provisional clinical opinions (PCOs) reflect expert consensus based on clinical evidence and literature available at the time they are written and are intended to assist physicians in clinical decision making and identify questions and settings for further research. Because of the rapid flow of scientific information in oncology, new evidence may have emerged since the time a PCO was submitted for publication. PCOs are not continually updated and may not reflect the most recent evidence. PCOs cannot account for individual variation among patients and cannot be considered inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of other treatments. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or other health care provider, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best course of treatment for the patient. Accordingly, adherence to any PCO is voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding its application to be made by the physician in light of each patient's individual circumstances. ASCO PCOs describe the use of procedures and therapies in clinical trials and cannot be assumed to apply to the use of these interventions in the context of clinical practice. ASCO assumes no responsibility for any injury or damage to persons or property arising out of or related to any use of ASCO's PCOs, or for any errors or omissions.

scholarly journals Correction to: Content validation of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL with advanced cancer patients and health care professionals from palliative care services in Chile

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslye Rojas-Concha ◽  
Maiken Bang Hansen ◽  
Morten Aagaard Petersen ◽  
Mogens Groenvold
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Content Validation ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Eortc Qlq

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Symptom Assessment and Early Access to Supportive and Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors in Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirza Jacqueline Alcalde-Castro ◽  
Enrique Soto-Perez-de-Celis ◽  
Alfredo Covarrubias-Gómez ◽  
Sofía Sánchez-Román ◽  
Paulina Quiróz-Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
First Year ◽  
Advanced Solid Tumors ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Oncology Care

Background: Early specialized palliative care improves quality of life of patients with advanced cancer, and guidelines encourage its integration into standard oncology care. However, many patients fail to obtain timely palliative/supportive care evaluations, particularly in limited-resource settings. We aimed to determine the proportion of patients with advanced cancer who received an assessment of symptoms and were referred to supportive and palliative care services during the first year after diagnosis in a Mexican hospital. Methods: Individuals with newly diagnosed advanced solid tumors and 1 year of follow-up at the oncology clinics in the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran in Mexico City from October 2015 to April 2016 were included in this retrospective study. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included. Forty-two (54.5%) were referred to the various supportive care services during the first year after diagnosis, and 23 (29.8%) were referred to the palliative care clinic. The most commonly assessed symptoms by oncologists were pain (77.9%), anorexia (74.0%), fatigue (68.8%), and nausea (55.8%), while depression/anxiety were evaluated in 10 (12.9%) patients. The oncologist offered to clarify treatment goals in 39 (50.6%) cases and evaluated the understanding of diagnosis/illness and prognosis in 22 (28.5%). Conclusion: Palliative and supportive care services were widely underutilized, which may be related to a lack of standardized symptom assessments and poor end-of-life communication. Novel strategies are needed to improve the implementation of tools for systematic symptom assessment and to optimize the integration of supportive care interventions into oncology care in developing countries.

Integration of specialty palliative care in a phase I ovarian cancer population.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 75-75
Author(s):  
Marisa R Moroney ◽  
Breana Hill ◽  
Jeanelle Sheeder ◽  
Jennifer Robinson Diamond ◽  
Melony Avella-Howell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Phase I Clinical Trials ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services

75 Background: ASCO guidelines recommend patients with advanced cancer receive early integrated specialty palliative care based on evidence of multiple clinical benefits. To our knowledge, there is no literature evaluating utilization of specialty palliative care in Phase I clinical trial patients, but there is limited data demonstrating underutilization of palliative care services in patients with life-threatening diseases including advanced cancer. Methods: A retrospective review of ovarian cancer patients enrolled in Phase I clinical trials at one institution from 2008 to 2018. Charts were reviewed for patient and disease characteristics including age, disease stage, number of chemotherapy regimens and date of death. Charts were also reviewed to determine if and when patients received specialty palliative care services. Results: A total of 121 patients with ovarian cancer were enrolled in Phase I clinical trials. Median age at time of Phase I enrollment was 59 years (range 33-88). 87% of patients had advanced stage disease: 60% Stage III and 27% Stage IV. Median number of chemotherapy regimens received prior to Phase I enrollment was 5 (range 1-13). Median survival was 311 days (95%CI 225.9-396.1). Of the 121 patients, 4 (3.3%) received specialty palliative care prior to Phase I enrollment, 7 (5.8%) within 30 days after enrollment, and 53 (43.8%) more than 30 days after enrollment. 57 patients (47.1%) never received specialty palliative care. Conclusions: Ovarian cancer patients enrolled in Phase I clinical trials have advanced cancer – defined by ASCO as disease that is late-stage and life limiting with a prognosis less than 24 months – and should therefore receive early integrated specialty palliative care. This study demonstrates that a significant portion of Phase I ovarian cancer patients are either receiving no or late integration of specialty palliative care. Further work needs to focus on increasing early integration of specialty palliative care in this population.

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