The perspectives of oncology healthcare providers on the role of palliative care in a comprehensive cancer center

Anderson, Trenley M.; Farrell, Mary Beth; Moss, Gabriel; Gupta, Mona; Mooney, Stefanie; Daunov, Katherine; Savernick, Megan; Frandsen, Jan; Verrona, Kolby; Pecoraro, Aryn; Mance, Cassandra; García, Jorge A.; Lee, Richard T.

doi:10.1186/s12904-022-01039-7

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 27 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…Thus, palliative care reduces symptom distress effectively (Gomes et al 2016 ), cost-effectively (Smith et al 2014 ), and consequently regardless of place of care. CCCs are responsible for providing structures, information and training in palliative care to overcome hurdles (Anderson et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

Berendt,

Brunner,

Heckel

et al. 2024

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

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Purpose The National Hospice and Palliative Registry contains patient data from German hospice and palliative care facilities about symptoms. The aim of the study at hand is to differentiate symptom burden of patients in palliative care units between Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) and other hospitals regarding symptom burden and relief of patients in palliative care units. Methods The registry analysis provided data of patients in palliative care units (2014–2018). We analyzed characteristic and symptom-related data on 18 symptoms, with considerable symptom-burdened patients (moderate or severe). We followed a cancer (yes/no) and facility-specific descriptive analysis (f, %, μ, Mdn, SD, V, r) using SPSS. Results We evaluated 10,447 patient records (CCC: 4234 pts/non CCC 6,213 pts), 82% with a cancer diagnosis. For cancer patients, the mean age in CCC-affiliated palliative care units was 68 (SD 19–99) years, in others 73 (SD 23–104) years (p < 0.05; V = 0.2). The proportion of patients with significant symptom burden is lower in CCC-affiliated than in other palliative care units. The difference between facilities shows a significant weak effect in pain, vomiting and constipation, depressiveness, anxiety, and tension. The proportion of cases which symptom burden could be alleviated is higher in CCC-affiliated palliative care units with significant weak/medium effect in pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, constipation, wound care problems, depressiveness, anxiety, tension, confusion, and problems in organizing care. Conclusion We found differences in symptom burden and symptom relief between CCC-affiliated and other palliative care units. CCCs should continue to feel responsible for sharing knowledge about symptom relief, such as through standard operating procedures and education.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

Berendt,

Brunner,

Heckel

et al. 2024

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

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Palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies in Germany: a nationwide survey on everyday practice and influencing factors from the perspective of treating physicians

Gebel,

Kruschel,

Bodinger

et al. 2024

Ann Hematol

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Integrating palliative care into the treatment of patients with advanced hematological malignancies (HM) remains challenging. To explore treating physicians’ perspectives on current palliative care practice and to evaluate factors influencing integration, we conducted a nationwide online survey. Based on literature and expert review, the survey addressed the importance of palliative care, communication about life-threatening conditions, challenges in establishing goals of care, and factors influencing the integration of palliative care. 207 physicians treating patients with HM in Germany participated. We used standard descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data and a content structuring approach. Most physicians considered palliative care in HM to be very important (60.6%) and discussed life-threatening conditions with more than half of their patients (52%), especially when goals of care were changed (87.0%) or when patients raised the topic (84.0%). Disease-related factors, different professional perspectives on prognosis, and patient hopes were the main barriers to changing goals of care, but collaboration with colleagues and multidisciplinary teams provided important support. Time constraints were identified as the main barrier to integrating palliative care. The majority worked well with palliative care teams. Referral processes and conditions were perceived as minor barriers. The study highlights the need to address barriers to integrating palliative care into the management of patients with advanced HM. Future research should aim at optimizing palliative care for patients with HM.

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Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

Berendt

Brunner

Heckel

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Purpose The National Hospice & Palliative Registry contains patient data from German hospice and palliative care facilities about symptoms. The aim of the study at hand is to differentiate symptom burden of patients in palliative care units between Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) and other hospitals regarding symptom burden and relief of patients in palliative care units. Methods The registry analysis provided data of patients in palliative care units (2014-2018). We analyzed characteristic and symptom-related data on 18 symptoms, with considerable symptom-burdened patients (moderate or severe). We followed a cancer (yes/no) and facility-specific descriptive analysis (f, %, μ, Mdn, SD, V, r) using SPSS. Results We evaluated 10,447 patient records (CCC: 4,234 pts / Non CCC 6,213 pts), 82% with a cancer diagnosis. For cancer patients the mean age in CCC-affiliated palliative care units was 68 (SD 19-99) years, in others 73 (SD 23-104) years (p<0.05; V=0.2). The proportion of patients with significant symptom burden is lower in CCC-affiliated than in other palliative care units. The difference between facilities shows a significant weak effect in pain, vomiting and constipation, depressiveness, anxiety and tension. The proportion of cases which symptom burden could be alleviated is higher in CCC-affiliated palliative care units with significant weak/medium effect in pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, constipation, pressure ulcers, depressiveness, anxiety, tension, confusion, and problems in organizing care. Conclusion We found differences in symptom burden and symptom relief between CCC-affiliated and other palliative care units. CCCs should continue to feel responsible for sharing knowledge about symptom relief, such as through Standard Operating Procedures and education.

show abstract

The perspectives of oncology healthcare providers on the role of palliative care in a comprehensive cancer center

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

Palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies in Germany: a nationwide survey on everyday practice and influencing factors from the perspective of treating physicians

Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals

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