scholarly journals When and why should patients with hematologic malignancies see a palliative care specialist?

Hematology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (1) ◽  
pp. 471-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. LeBlanc ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hematologic Malignancies ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Early Integration ◽  
Patients With Cancer

Abstract Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to symptom management, psychosocial support, and assistance in treatment decision-making for patients with serious illness and their families. It emphasizes well-being at any point along the disease trajectory, regardless of prognosis. The term “palliative care” is often incorrectly used as a synonym for end-of-life care, or “hospice care”. However, palliative care does not require a terminal diagnosis or proximity to death, a misconception that we will address in this article. Multiple randomized clinical trials demonstrate the many benefits of early integration of palliative care for patients with cancer, including reductions in symptom burden, improvements in quality-of-life, mood, and overall survival, as well as improved caregiver outcomes. Thus, early concurrent palliative care integrated with cancer-directed care has emerged as a standard-of-care practice for patients with cancer. However, patients with hematologic malignancies rarely utilize palliative care services, despite their many unmet palliative care needs, and are much less likely to use palliative care compared to patients with solid tumors. In this article, we will define “palliative care” and address some common misconceptions regarding its role as part of high-quality care for patients with cancer. We will then review the evidence supporting the integration of palliative care into comprehensive cancer care, discuss perceived barriers to palliative care in hematologic malignancies, and suggest opportunities and triggers for earlier and more frequent palliative care referral in this population.

scholarly journals The Role of Palliative Care in Oncology

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 307-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajiv Agarwal ◽  
Andrew Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Living With Cancer ◽  
Palliative Care Needs ◽  
Shed Light

AbstractPalliative care is a powerful adjunct to oncology that adds distinct value to the physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of patients living with cancer. Its expanding role and integration with standard oncologic care has proven clinical benefit, as the practice of palliative care can help alleviate symptom burden, enhance illness and prognostic understanding, and improve both the quality of life and overall survival for patients. The primary aim of this review article is to highlight the significant interplay between palliative care and oncology and, in doing so, shed light on the areas for improvement and modern challenges that exist to meet the complex palliative care needs of patients with cancer.

scholarly journals Concerns of Patients With Cancer on Accessing Cannabis Products in a State With Restrictive Medical Marijuana Laws: A Survey Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinita Singh ◽  
Ali J. Zarrabi ◽  
Kimberly A. Curseen ◽  
Roman Sniecinski ◽  
Justine W. Welsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Medical Marijuana ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Medical Marijuana Laws ◽  
Source Of Information

PURPOSE: Several states, particularly in the Southeast, have restrictive medical marijuana laws that permit qualified patients to use specific cannabis products. The majority of these states, however, do not provide avenues for accessing cannabis products such as in-state dispensaries. METHODS: We conducted a survey of patients registered for medical marijuana (low tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] oil cards) in an ambulatory palliative care practice in Georgia (one of the states with restrictive medical marijuana laws). RESULTS: We had a total of 101 responses. Among our sample of patients who use cannabis as part of a state-approved low THC oil program, 56% were male and 64% were older than age 50 years. Advanced cancer was the most common reason (76%) for granting the patients access to a low THC oil card. Although patients reported cannabis products as being extremely helpful for reducing pain, they expressed considerable concerns about the legality issues (64%) and ability to obtain THC (68%). Several respondents were using unapproved formulations of cannabis products. For 48% of the patients, their physician was the source of information regarding marijuana-related products. Furthermore, they believed that their health care providers and family members were supportive of their use of cannabis (62% and 79%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients on Georgia’s medical marijuana program are most concerned about the legality of the product and their ability to obtain marijuana-related products. Therefore, we recommend that states with medical marijuana laws should provide safe and reliable access to cannabis products for qualifying patients.

scholarly journals E10-B Palliative Care Needs at Different Phases in the Illness Trajectory: A Survey Study in Patients with Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. e45
Author(s):  
Kim Beernaert ◽  
Koen Pardon ◽  
Lieve Van den Block ◽  
Dirk Devroey ◽  
Martine De Laat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Illness Trajectory ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

Pulmonary referrals to specialist palliative medicine: a survey

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2021-003386
Author(s):  
Michael Bonares ◽  
Kenneth Mah ◽  
David Christiansen ◽  
John Granton ◽  
Andrea Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Referral Criteria ◽  
Referral Practices ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

ObjectivesPatients with chronic respiratory disease have significant palliative care needs, but low utilisation of specialist palliative care (SPC) services. Decreased access to SPC results in unmet palliative care needs among this patient population. We sought to determine the referral practices to SPC among respirologists in Canada.MethodsRespirologists across Canada were invited to participate in a survey about their referral practices to SPC. Associations between referral practices and demographic, professional and attitudinal factors were analysed using regression analyses.ResultsThe response rate was 64.7% (438/677). Fifty-nine per cent of respondents believed that their patients have negative perceptions of palliative care and 39% were more likely to refer to SPC earlier if it was renamed supportive care. While only 2.7% never referred to SPC, referral was late in 52.6% of referring physicians. Lower frequency of referral was associated with equating palliative care to end-of-life care (p<0.001), male sex of respirologist (p=0.019), not knowing referral criteria of SPC services (p=0.015) and agreement that SPC services prioritise patients with cancer (p=0.025); higher referral frequency was associated with satisfaction with SPC services (p=0.001). Late referral was associated with equating palliative care to end-of-life care (p<0.001) and agreement that SPC services prioritise patients with cancer (p=0.013).ConclusionsPossible barriers to respirologists’ timely SPC referral include misperceptions about palliative care, lack of awareness of referral criteria and the belief that SPC services prioritise patients with cancer. Future studies should confirm these barriers and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to overcome them.

scholarly journals Palliative care for older South Asian migrants: A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jahan Shabnam ◽  
Helle Timm ◽  
Dorthe S. Nielsen ◽  
Mette Raunkiaer
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
International Evidence ◽  
Migrant Families ◽  
Care Decision

AbstractObjectiveSouth Asian migrants have a higher burden of life-threatening diseases and chronic diseases compared to other ethnic groups. Yet, knowledge gaps remain around their palliative care needs in the host countries. The aim of the review was to present results from a systematic literature review of available international evidence on experiences with and perspectives on palliative care among older South Asian migrants, relatives, and healthcare providers.MethodsA systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines was conducted in February 2018, searching PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and EMBASE databases. PROSPERO #CRD42018093464. Studies included empirical research, providing international evidence on experiences and perspectives on palliative care of South Asian migrants and were published between 2000 and 2018. Thematic synthesis was used to analyze data.ResultsA total of 30 articles were included: qualitative (24), quantitative (5), and mixed methods (1). Three main themes were discovered: 1) palliative care practice within the family, 2) trust as a precondition of palliative care, and 3) the importance of knowledge and cultural competency. All the themes, to a greater or lesser extent, are related to access to and use of palliative care services by South Asian migrant families.Significance of resultsInvolvement of family members in palliative care decision making could improve the satisfaction of South Asian migrant families toward the service. For example, Advanced Care Planning involving family members could be a possible way to engage family members in palliative care decision making. Supportive interventions, e.g. providing knowledge, aimed at patients and their family members might improve knowledge and increase awareness among South Asian migrant families of palliative care. Knowledge gained from this review could be implemented with other ethnic minority groups.

scholarly journals 1-2-3 Project: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Normalize and Systematize Palliative Care for All Patients With Cancer in the Outpatient Clinic Setting

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e775-e785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjali V. Desai ◽  
Virginia M. Klimek ◽  
Kimberly Chow ◽  
Andrew S. Epstein ◽  
Camila Bernal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Core Values ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Palliative Care Consultation ◽  
Care Consultation ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

Background: Prior work to integrate early palliative care in oncology has focused on patients with advanced cancer and primarily on palliative care consultation. We developed this outpatient clinic initiative for newly diagnosed patients at any stage, emphasizing primary (nonspecialist) palliative care by oncology teams, with enhanced access to palliative care specialists. Methods: We piloted the project in two medical oncology specialty clinics (for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and GI cancer, respectively) to establish feasibility. On a visit-based schedule, patients systematically reported symptoms, information/decision-making preferences, and illness understanding. They also participated in discussions of their core values with their oncology nurse. Oncology teams were first responders to palliative care needs, whereas specialists were available for clinician support and direct patient consultation. Results: All 58 eligible patients were enrolled. In both clinics, patient self-reports documented a heavy symptom burden. Information/decision-making preferences and illness understanding levels varied across patients. Patients prepared new advance directives. Oncology nurses documented discussions of core values. Requests for palliative care consultation decreased over time as oncology teams embraced their primary palliative care role with coaching from the specialists. Clinic workflow and patient volume were maintained. Conclusion: Our pilot experience suggests that in outpatient oncology clinics, a structured, scheduled, and systematic approach is feasible to deliver palliative care to newly diagnosed patients with cancer at any stage and throughout their illness trajectory. This novel approach identified important, actionable palliative care needs, relying primarily on oncology teams to respond to these needs, while enhancing access to palliative care specialist input. Expansion to additional clinics will allow evaluation of scalability and generalizability, along with measurement of a broader range of important outcomes.

Health professionals' views on services for patients with cancer-related palliative care needs

2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Margaret Thomson ◽  
Paula Hourston ◽  
Jo Ladley ◽  
Leigh Findlay ◽  
Aileen Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

Comparative analysis of internal medicine physicians’ perspectives and attitudes when addressing palliative care needs in heart failure and cancer patients.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Vatsala Katiyar ◽  
Tiago Araujo ◽  
Ishaan Vohra ◽  
Rayli Pichardo ◽  
Vijaya Venkatasubbaraya Pavan Kedar Vijaya Venkatasubbar Mukthinuthalapati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Early Integration ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Level Of Training

7 Background: Palliative care (PC) is heavily centered on patients with advanced and often incurable malignancies. Despite having a comparable symptomatic burden and worse mortality rates than some types of cancer, heart failure (HF) patients have decreased rate of palliative service referral of approximately 7%, as opposed to 48% in those with malignancies. We aim to understand the differences in the attitudes of physicians when addressing the PC needs for patients with advanced HF and malignancies. Methods: All the internal medicine residents at our institute were asked to fill out a structured paper-based questionnaire. The survey tool consisted of both Likert-type scales and open-ended questions focused on their attitude and perceptions while managing patients with advanced HF and Stage IV malignancy. Descriptive statistics and intergroup comparisons were then made for all quantifiable variables (Table). Results: Of the 137 medicine residents, 120 (87.6%) completed the survey. 70% were males and 96.6% residents were in the age group of 25-34 years. 62.5% residents had done a PC rotation prior to answering the survey and they were more comfortable in initiating goals of care (GOC) discussion for these patients. More residents were comfortable communicating the prognosis of patients with HF as compared to cancer patients irrespective of the level of training. Of the 26 residents interested in pursuing cardiology as a subspecialty, only 5 (19.2%) thought that the 5-year mortality of advanced HF ≥50%. Conclusions: Physicians often underestimate the symptom burden and mortality of HF patients and are less likely to consult PC for them. Early integration of PC in the management of HF patients is recommended and physicians need to be educated on these guidelines. [Table: see text]

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