scholarly journals Integrating Palliative Care Services in Ambulatory Oncology: An Application of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. e401-e407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri L. Rauenzahn ◽  
Susanne Schmidt ◽  
Ifeoma O. Aduba ◽  
Jessica T. Jones ◽  
Nazneen Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Referral System ◽  
Referral Rates ◽  
Ambulatory Oncology ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale

Purpose: Research in palliative care demonstrates improvements in overall survival, quality of life, symptom management, and reductions in the cost of care. Despite the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendation for early concurrent palliative care in patients with advanced cancer and high symptom burden, integrating palliative services is challenging. Our aims were to quantitatively describe the palliative referral rates and symptom burden in a South Texas cancer center and establish a palliative referral system by implementing the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). Methods: As part of our Plan-Do-Study-Act process, all staff received an educational overview of the ESAS tool and consultation ordering process. The ESAS form was then implemented across five ambulatory oncology clinics to assess symptom burden and changes therein longitudinally. Referral rates and symptom assessment scores were tracked as metrics for quality improvement. Results: On average, one patient per month was referred before implementation of the intervention compared with 10 patients per month after implementation across all clinics. In five sample clinics, 607 patients completed the initial assessment, and 430 follow-up forms were collected over 5 months, resulting in a total of 1,037 scores collected in REDCap. The mean ESAS score for initial patient visits was 20.0 (standard deviation, 18.1), and referred patients had an initial mean score of 39.0 (standard deviation, 19.0). Conclusion: This project highlights the low palliative care consultation rate, high symptom burden of oncology patients, and underuse of services by oncologists despite improvements with the introduction of a symptom assessment form and referral system.

Utilization of an electronic medical record trigger to promote palliative care consultation in ambulatory oncology.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18201-e18201
Author(s):  
Sherri L. Rauenzahn ◽  
Susanne Schmidt ◽  
Nazneen Ali ◽  
Laura LaNiel Tenner
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Medical Record ◽  
Electronic Medical Record ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Ambulatory Oncology ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
The Impact

e18201 Background: Research insupportive care demonstrates improvements in overall survival, quality of life, symptom management, and reductions in the cost of care. Despite the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendation for early concurrent supportive care in patients with advanced cancer and high symptom burden, integrating supportive services is challenging. Our aims were to 1) implement an electronic medical record (EMR) provider alert of high symptom burden based on Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) criteria and 2) determine the impact an alert has on supportive service referrals. Methods: ESAS scores were implemented in medical ambulatory oncology clinics to quantitatively assess symptom burden. An EMR alert was programmed for a total ESAS score > 30 and any single response of ≥9 to capture approximately 15% of our high symptom burden patient population. The provider could elect to accept the alert placing an order for palliative consultation or decline the prompt. Referral rates and symptom assessment scores were followed as metrics for EMR alert efficiency. Results: Over 10 months, 9,710 patient visits used the ESAS system resulting in 7,707 fully completed ESAS scores (79.4% completion rate). There were 78 total consults to palliative care, a referral rate of less than 1% of the population, which was unchanged from prior to trigger implementation. Of the total completed ESAS forms, the trigger alerted 686 times (8.9% of patient visits) with only 55 of those triggers leading to a supportive care referral (8.0%). Conclusions: This project highlights the challenges of an EMR based alert system and the need for continued efforts to improve supportive care referrals through provider education and tool implementation. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Prescreening of Patient-reported Symptoms using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) in Outpatient Palliative Cancer Care

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garden Lee ◽  
Han Sang Kim ◽  
Si Won Lee ◽  
Eun Hwa Kim ◽  
Bori Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Severe Symptom ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System ◽  
Patient Reported

Abstract Background: Although early palliative care is associated with a better quality of life and improved outcomes in end-of-life cancer care, the criteria of palliative care referral are still elusive. Methods: We collected patient-reported symptoms using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) at the baseline, first, and second follow-up visit. The ESAS evaluates ten symptoms: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, dyspnea, sleep disorder, appetite, and wellbeing. A total of 71 patients were evaluable, with a median age of 65 years, male (62%), and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status distribution of 1/2/3 (28%/39%/33%), respectively. Results: Twenty (28%) patients had moderate/severe symptom burden with the mean ESAS ≥5. Interestingly, most of the patients with moderate/severe symptom burdens (ESAS ≥5) had globally elevated symptom expression. While the mean ESAS score was maintained in patients with mild symptom burden (ESAS<5; 2.7 at the baseline; 3.4 at the first follow-up; 3.0 at the second follow-up; P =0.117), there was significant symptom improvement in patients with moderate/severe symptom burden (ESAS≥5; 6.5 at the baseline; 4.5 at the first follow-up; 3.6 at the second follow-up; P <0.001). Conclusions: Advanced cancer patients with ESAS ≥5 may benefit from outpatient palliative cancer care. Prescreening of patient-reported symptoms using ESAS can be useful for identifying unmet palliative care needs in advanced cancer patients.

The influence of a cachexia clinic on palliative care integration in oncology.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 124-124
Author(s):  
Diane Portman ◽  
Sarah Thirlwell ◽  
Kristine A. Donovan
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
The Impact

124 Background: Appetite and weight loss are common in patients with advanced cancer and specialized cachexia clinics have been established to address these symptoms. Given the association between anorexia/cachexia and other adverse symptoms, these patients may also benefit from specialty level palliative care (PC). However, referral to outpatient specialty level PC is often delayed or does not occur. We sought to examine the prevalence of other factors associated with appetite and weight loss in patients with advanced cancer and the impact of a specialized cachexia clinic on identification and treatment of other PC needs. Methods: The records of patients referred by their Oncologist to the cachexia clinic of a cancer center from August 2016 to June 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Subjects who had been referred to PC by their Oncologist were excluded. Patients had been assessed for symptom burden using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-r). Patients identified with PC needs had been referred to the PC clinic for follow-up within 30 days after cachexia clinic consultation. Results: Thirty subjects were evaluated in the cachexia clinic (average age 68 years; 63% female). The predominant diagnosis was lung cancer (70%). An average of 6 symptoms per patient were in the moderate to severe range on ESAS, excluding appetite. Depression, fatigue and pain were most common. The average cachexia clinic total ESAS score was 51.61. Only 17% of patients had completed advance directives. Ninety-three % of patients were referred to PC and 68% were seen. The average number of PC visits was 2.79. Within the PC clinic, advance directive completion increased to 37%, goals of care discussion occurred with 50% and 17% received hospice referrals. At the most recent follow-up in the PC clinic, the average total ESAS score had decreased by 11.44 (22%) and all ESAS item scores were improved on average. Conclusions: The cachexia clinic proved a useful means to identify other PC needs and achieve effective PC referrals. We suggest this is proof of concept that specialty clinics can be a meaningful way to achieve an earlier entry point to comprehensive PC in patients who were not previously referred by their Oncologists.

The use of a palliative care tool in a community private practice.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 95-95
Author(s):  
Tallat Mahmood ◽  
Helen Shock ◽  
Jane Severson ◽  
Douglas W. Blayney ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Individual Patient Level ◽  
Oncology Practice ◽  
The Individual

95 Background: Although symptom assessment is a routine part of oncology care, data from the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium (MOQC) showed variation in individual practice (Health Affairs 31:718, 2012). As part of the MOQC Palliative Care Demonstration Project, we implemented the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System(ESAS) in a private oncology clinic. ESAS is a valid and reliable assessment tool that evaluates nine common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. Our target population was patients with active cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Initial implementation focused on patients of only one of the practice’s physicians. Symptoms rated >3 were considered symptomatic and were addressed by the physician. To monitor overall performance, a practice profile was compiled from the individual ESAS results. For symptoms with the greatest severity and incidence, targeted resources were developed and integrated in new electronic medical record templates and educational sessions with patients. Results: Managing change incrementally with weekly reassessment of implementation problems was effective. Use of the ESAS tool allowed for a focused discussion of the patient symptomatology and lead to better efficiency for the physician. Understanding the symptom burden of the patient population and implementing practice wide interventions helped to reduce the symptom burden at an individual patient level. Conclusions: The ease of use of the ESAS tool makes it highly successful in the private oncology practice setting. Profiling the symptom burden at a practice level facilitates targeted improvements and monitoring of performance over time. [Table: see text]

Symptom burden and characteristics of patients who die in the acute palliative care unit of a tertiary cancer center.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 53-53
Author(s):  
YuJung Kim ◽  
Grace S. Ahn ◽  
Hak Ro Kim ◽  
Beodeul Kang ◽  
Sung Soun Hur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Tertiary Cancer Center

53 Background: Acute Palliative Care Units (ACPUs) are novel inpatient programs in tertiary care centers that provide aggressive symptom management and assist transition to hospice. However, patients often die in the APCU before successfully transferring to hospice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the symptom burden and characteristics of advanced cancer patients who die in the APCU. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all advanced cancer patients admitted to the APCU between April, 2015 and March, 2016 at a tertiary cancer center in Korea. Basic characteristics and symptom burden assessed by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) were obtained from consultation upon APCU admission. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare patients who died in the APCU with those who were discharged alive. Results: Of the 267 patients analyzed, 87 patients (33%) died in the APCU. The median age of patients was 66 (range, 23-97). Patients who died in the APCU had higher ESAS scores of drowsiness (6 vs 5, P = 0.002), dyspnea (4 vs 2, P = 0.001), anorexia (8 vs 6, P = 0.014) and insomnia (6 vs 4, P = 0.001) compared to patients who discharged alive. Total symptom distress scores (SDS) were also significantly higher (47 vs 40, P = 0.001). Patients who died in the APCU were more likely to be male (odds ratio [OR] for female patients 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.67, P < 0.001) and have higher ESAS scores of drowsiness (OR 2.08, 95% CI, 1.08-3.99, P = 0.029) and dyspnea (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.26-3.80, P = 0.005). These patients showed significantly shorter survival after APCU admission (7 days vs 31 days, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Advanced cancer patients who die in the APCU are more likely to be male and have significantly higher symptom burden that include drowsiness and dyspnea. These patients show rapid clinical deterioration after APCU admission. More proactive and timely end-of-life care is needed for these patients.

Cannabis use in palliative care: The prevalence and clinical characteristics.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 245-245
Author(s):  
Young Doo Chang ◽  
Joshua S. Smith ◽  
Ritika Oberoi-Jassal ◽  
Vijay Desai ◽  
Stephanie L Winn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
P Value ◽  
Spiritual Wellbeing ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Palliative Care Setting ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
Drug Sample

245 Background: Cannabis has growing attention in palliative care, been used for some cancer related symptom burden, but limited data in terms of prevalence in palliative care setting and clinical characteristics with using it. Purpose: To identify the prevalence of positive rate of cannabis metabolite on urine drug sample (UDS) and compare clinical characteristics focused on symptoms burden on Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) on the same day of UDS. Methods: We conducted retrospective medical records review of 919 consecutive supportive care clinic patients who were seen at a National Cancer Institute center during a 12-month period between 7/01/2015 to 6/30/2016. Results: 531 out of 919 patients were excluded because UDS was not ordered: either patients were established or had low risk of substance abuse by clinicians’ judgement. 2 patients did not complete ESAS on same day of UDS. 137 patients were excluded because of missing UDS results as well. Finally, 249 out of 919 patients were included for data analysis with their UDS and ESAS at same day of visit. 54 patients were positive for cannabis metabolite (THC: tetrahydrocannabinol) on UDS (22%). We found that positive cannabis group was younger (Mean age 56.1 vs 48.8, p-Value .001), reported higher score of total ESAS (Mean 45.5 vs 38.9, p-value 0.023), pain (Mean 6.13 vs 4.99, p-Value 0.007), and insomnia (6.04 vs 4.44, p-Value 0.001). In addition, positive cannabis group reported poorer overall wellbeing (5.43 vs 4.56, p-Value 0.015) and spiritual wellbeing (6.04 vs 4.44, p Value 0.040) compared to negative cannabis group. Conclusions: The positive results of cannabis on UDS may be a marker of greater symptom burden, in particular, pain, insomnia and poorer overall and spiritual wellbeing as assessed by ESAS patient’s self-reporting.

scholarly journals Prevalence and characteristics of patients with heart failure needing palliative care

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Fernanda Arenas Ochoa ◽  
Valentina González-Jaramillo ◽  
Clara Saldarriaga ◽  
Mariantonia Lemos ◽  
Alicia Krikorian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Kansas City ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Few hospitals and heart failure (HF) clinics offer concurrent palliative care (PC) together with life-prolonging therapies. To know the prevalence of patients in HF clinics needing PC and useful tools to recognize them are the first steps to extending PC in those settings. However, it is still unknown whether tools commonly used to identify patients with HF needing PC can correctly distinguish them. Two systematic reviews found that the NECesidades PALiativas (NECPAL) tool was one of the two most commonly used tools to asses PC needs in HF patients. Therefore, we assessed 1) the prevalence of PC needs in HF clinics according to the NECPAL tool, and 2) the characteristics of the patients identified as having PC; mainly, their quality of life (QoL), symptom burden, and psychosocial problems. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at two HF clinics in Colombia. We assessed the prevalence of PC in the overall sample and in subgroups according to clinical and demographic variables. We assessed QoL, symptom burden, and psychosocial problems using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). We compared the results of these tools between patients identified as having PC needs (+NECPAL) and patients identified as not having PC needs (–NECPAL). Results Among the 178 patients, 78 (44%) had PC needs. The prevalence of PC needs was twice as nigh in patients NYHA III/IV as in patients NYHA I/II and almost twice as high in patients older than 70 years as in patients younger than 70 years. Compared to –NECPAL patients, +NECPAL patients had worse QoL, more severe shortness of breath, tiredness, drowsiness, and pain, and more psychosocial problems. Conclusion The prevalence of PC needs in outpatient HF clinics is high and is even higher in older patients and in patients at more advanced NYHA stages. Compared to patients identified as not having PC needs, patients identified as having PC needs have worse QoL, more severe symptoms, and greater psychosocial problems. Including a PC provider in the multidisciplinary team of HF clinics may help to assess and cover these needs.

Symptom burden in hospitalized patients with curable and incurable cancers.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 190-190
Author(s):  
Lauren Waldman ◽  
Richard Newcomb ◽  
Ryan David Nipp ◽  
Ephraim P. Hochberg ◽  
Vicki Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Care Utilization

190 Background: Inpatient supportive care interventions are targeted to patients with advanced solid tumors due to perceived higher symptom burden. Yet, few studies have characterized symptom prevalence in hospitalized patients with curable cancers. We aimed to describe and compare symptom burden and palliative care utilization in hospitalized patients with curable and incurable cancers to determine the allocation of such supportive care resources. Methods: We conducted a single center study of 1549 patients (238 curable hematologic, 239 curable solid, 123 incurable hematologic, 949 incurable solid cancers) who experienced an unplanned hospitalization between 9/14 - 4/17. On admission, we assessed patients’ physical symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire - 4 and Primary Care PTSD Screen). Results: The median number of moderate to severe symptoms reported by patients with curable hematologic, curable solid, incurable hematologic, and incurable solid cancers were 5 [3-6], 5 [3-7], 5 [4-6], and 6 [4-7], respectively. Most patients reported moderate to severe fatigue (83.6%, 82.9%, 81.3%, 86.9%). Table 1 depicts rates of psychological distress. In adjusted analyses patients with incurable solid cancers reported higher symptom burden (β = 7.6, p < 0.01), depression (β = 0.4, p = 0.01), and anxiety (β = 0.3, p = 0.03) symptoms, but no difference in PTSD symptoms. Among patients in top quartile of symptom burden, palliative care was consulted in 16.2%, 7.9%, 23.8%, and 49.6% (p < 0.01) of patients with curable hematologic, curable solid, incurable hematologic, and incurable solid cancers, respectively. Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with solid and hematologic cancers experience substantial physical and psychological symptoms regardless of the curability of their illness. Palliative care is rarely consulted for highly symptomatic patients with curable cancers. Inpatient supportive care interventions should target the needs of all highly symptomatic patients with cancer. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Impact of Palliative Care in Evaluating and Relieving Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Cancer. The DEMETRA Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Corli ◽  
Giacomo Pellegrini ◽  
Cristina Bosetti ◽  
Luca Riva ◽  
Matteo Crippa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Symptom Intensity ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Patients Experience

Abstract Background: Cancer patients experience a number of symptoms throughout the course of the disease. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer at admission to specialist palliative care (PC) services and seven days later, to estimate the immediate impact of PC intervention.Patient and methods: The analysis was based on an observational, prospective, multicenter study (named DEMETRA) conducted in Italy to outline the profile of patients, families and PC services in different care settings (hospital, hospice and home care). The prevalence and intensity of symptoms were assessed using three tools, including the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS).Results: Five PC centers recruited 865 cancer patients. Thirty-three different symptoms were observed at baseline, the most frequent being asthenia (85%) and lack of appetite (71%). Two-thirds of patients experienced six to twelve simultaneous symptoms. The intensity of the most frequent symptoms according to ESAS varied from 5.5 for asthenia to 3.9 for nausea. The presence and intensity of physical symptoms increased with increasing levels of anxiety and depression. After seven days, prevalence decreased significantly only for nausea and breathlessness, while intensity diminished significantly for almost all symptoms. At admission we noted a correlation between patients' symptoms and the care setting. After one week, the symptom intensity was uniformly reduced in all settings.Conclusions: The study confirmed the considerable symptom burden of patients with advanced cancer. PC intervention significantly lessened the severity of symptoms, despite the patients’ advanced disease and short survival.

scholarly journals Impact of Palliative Care in Evaluating and Relieving Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Results from the DEMETRA Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8429
Author(s):  
Oscar Corli ◽  
Giacomo Pellegrini ◽  
Cristina Bosetti ◽  
Luca Riva ◽  
Matteo Crippa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Intervention Patient ◽  
Almost All

Background: Cancer patients experience multiple symptoms throughout the course of the disease. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer at admission to specialist palliative care (PC) services and seven days later to estimate the immediate impact of PC intervention. Patient and methods: The analysis was based on an observational, prospective, multicenter study (named DEMETRA) conducted in Italy on new patients accessing network specialist PC centers during the period May 2017–November 2017. The prevalence and intensity of symptoms were assessed at baseline and after seven days using three tools including the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Results: Five PC centers recruited 865 cancer patients. Thirty-three different symptoms were observed at the baseline, the most frequent being asthenia (84.9%) and poor well-being (71%). The intensity of the most frequent symptoms according to ESAS ranged from 5.5 for asthenia to 3.9 for nausea. The presence and intensity of physical symptoms increased with increasing levels of anxiety and depression. After seven days, prevalence of nausea and breathlessness as well as intensity of almost all symptoms significantly decreased. Conclusions: The study confirmed the considerable symptom burden of patients with advanced cancer. PC intervention has significantly reduced the severity of symptoms, despite the patients’ advanced disease and short survival.

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