Effects of the hospital-based palliative care team on the care for cancer patients: An evaluation study

The holistic management of malignant bowel obstruction in women with advanced ovarian cancer at end of life

Bowel obstruction is commonly a pre-terminal event in women with advanced ovarian cancer. Management of symptoms will often be the focus rather than surgical intervention. Determining the patient's end-of-life wishes is paramount - because the prognosis for these patients can be short, advanced care planning is key. This case study will explore the management of nausea and vomiting associated with malignant bowel obstruction and demonstrate how a patient's psychological and social wellbeing is as important as managing the physical symptoms. It will discuss how skilled and effective communication is vital early in the disease trajectory in ensuring the patient's needs are met. Additionally, by undertaking a thorough holistic needs assessment, all aspects of end-of-life care can be discussed with the patient and family, which may enable the achievement of a preferred place of care and a peaceful, dignified death. Multidisciplinary working and co-ordination of care may allow for quick interventions, meeting individual needs and symptoms being managed more effectively.

Delivering Palliative Care to Hospitalized Oncology Patients: A Scoping Review

CONTEXT

Early, longitudinal integration of palliative care (PC) is recommended for patients with advanced cancer, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Despite the growth of specialty PC teams in the last decade, the majority of PC is still delivered in the inpatient setting using a traditional referral-based consult delivery model. However, traditional consultation can lead to significant variation or delay in inpatient PC utilization. New care delivery models and strategies are emerging to deliver PC to hospitalized oncology patients who would most benefit from their services and to better align with professional society recommendations.

OBJECTIVES

To identify different care models to deliver PC to ho`spitalized oncology patients and summarize their impact on patient and health system-related outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles from 2006 to 2021 evaluating delivery of PC to oncology patients in acute inpatient care. We abstracted study characteristics, the study's intervention and comparison arms, and outcomes related to specialty PC intervention.

RESULTS

We identified four delivery models that have been reported to deliver PC: 1) traditional referral-based consultation, 2) criterion-based or "triggered" consultation, 3) co-rounding with primary inpatient team, and 4) PC clinicians serving as the primary team. We summarize the known outcomes data from each model, and compare the benefits and limitations of each model.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide guidance to health systems about care delivery models to deploy and implement inpatient PC resources to best serve their unique populations.

End Stage Kidney Disease Patient Experiences of Renal Supportive Care in an Australian Teaching Hospital - A Qualitative Study

CONTEXT

Renal Supportive Care Services (RSCS) were introduced in Australia to provide patient-centred care with a focus on better symptom management and improved quality of life in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients managed with or without dialysis. While RSCS have demonstrated clinical benefits with reduced length of hospital stay and symptom burden, there is a gap in understanding the experience of patients referred to RSCS.

OBJECTIVES

To identify patient attitudes, beliefs, and perspectives on the RSCS.

METHODS

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 participants from both dialysis and conservative treatment pathways. Transcripts were then thematically analysed and primary themes identified, which were reviewed with a stakeholder group that included doctors, nurses and allied health staff to provide triangulation.

RESULTS

Patients perceived the RSCS as a provider of multidisciplinary, holistic and patient-centred care that, in addition, helped to ensure prognostic awareness and timely end-of-life care planning. This contributed to an overall sense of patient empowerment with healthcare decisions. This study identified three major themes: (1) Expectations of care; (2) Experience of care; and (3) Understanding patient needs.

CONCLUSION

The study found that RSCS support patient-centred and family-orientated initiatives in decision making and control over healthcare management. This is empowering for patients. Additional patient values, needs and wants from the RSCS were also identified and these could be addressed to improve the patient experience. Our findings support the ongoing use of RSCS to improve the experience of ESKD patients.

Different Associations Between Inpatient or Outpatient Palliative Care and End-of-Life Outcomes for Hospitalized Patients With Cancer

PURPOSE

Palliative care (PC) improves outcomes in advanced cancer, and guidelines recommend early outpatient referral. However, many PC teams see more inpatient than outpatient consults. We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with cancer to quantify exposure to inpatient and outpatient PC and describe associations between PC and end-of-life (EOL) quality measures.

METHODS

We identified all decedents admitted to an inpatient oncology unit in 1 year (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018) and abstracted hospitalization statistics, inpatient and outpatient PC visits, and EOL outcomes. Descriptive statistics, univariate tests, and multivariate analysis evaluated associations between PC and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 522 decedents were identified. 50% saw PC; only 21% had an outpatient PC visit. Decedents seen by PC were more likely to enroll in hospice (78% v 44%; P < .001), have do-not-resuscitate status (87% v 55%; P < .001), have advance care planning documents (53% v 31%; P < .001), and die at home or inpatient hospice instead of in hospital (67% v 40%; P < .01). Decedents seen by PC had longer hospital length-of-stay (LOS; 8.4 v 7.0 days; P = .03), but this association reversed for decedents seen by outpatient PC (6.3 v 8.3 days; P < .001), who also had longer hospice LOS (46.5 v 27.1 days; P < .01) and less EOL intensive care (6% v 15%; P < .05).

CONCLUSION

PC was associated with significantly more hospice utilization and advance care planning. Patients seen specifically by outpatient PC had shorter hospital LOS and longer hospice LOS. These findings suggest different effects of inpatient and outpatient PC, underscoring the importance of robust outpatient PC.

Components and Related Factors of Nursing Interventions for Improving Resilience in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Resilience is considered an effective concept for cancer patients, but nursing interventions for improving resilience have not been studied adequately yet. We aimed to explore the components and related factors of nursing interventions for promoting resilience among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (NIPRPC). This cross-sectional study included 68 facilities from 396 cancer hospitals in Japan. Participants were 377 nurses who worked at the outpatient chemotherapy center or cancer ward. They completed self-administered questionnaires including the NIPRPC items and Resilience Scale for Nurses, etc. We conducted factor, correlational, and regression analysis. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, six-dimensional factor components: “Support for patients during the present situation and increasing their self-affirmation”, “Support for self-help”, “Support for utilizing the cancer medical team”, “Support for obtaining family cooperation”, “Support for maintaining regular lifestyle during chemotherapy”, and “Support for interacting with cancer patients and utilizing necessary information”. The strong related factors for all six factors were the resilience of the nurses and the number of collaborations with multiple occupations. Our findings will help nurses improve the psychosocial quality of life of cancer patients and address their needs related to cancer chemotherapy treatment.

Impact of palliative care consult service in inpatient hospital setting: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVES

Despite a number of studies on effectiveness of palliative care, there is a lack of complex updated review of the impact of in-hospital palliative care consult service. The objective is to update information on the impact of palliative care consult service in inpatient hospital setting.

METHODS

This study was a systematic literature review, following the standard protocols (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Joanna Briggs Institute tools) to ensure the transparent and robust review procedure. The effect of palliative care consult service was classified as being associated with improvement, no difference, deterioration or mixed results in specific outcomes. PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Ultimate and SocINDEX were systematically searched up to February 2020. Studies were included if they focused on the impact of palliative care consult service caring for adult palliative care patients and their families in inpatient hospital setting.

RESULTS

After removing duplicates, 959 citations were screened of which 49 full-text articles were retained. A total of 28 different outcome variables were extracted. 18 of them showed positive effects within patient, family, staff and healthcare system domains. No difference was observed in patient survival and depression. Inconclusive results represented patient social support and staff satisfaction with care.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative care consult service has a number of positive effects for patients, families, staff and healthcare system. More research is needed on factors such as patient spiritual well-being, social support, performance, family understanding of patient diagnosis or staff stress.

Healthcare Chaplains' Perspectives on Nurse-Chaplain Collaboration: An Online Survey

The collaboration between nurses and chaplains is essential to provide spiritual support in healthcare institutions. Given challenges in collaboration exist between these disciplines, this study sought to further understand the nature of the chaplain-nurse relationship. Data obtained from an online survey of members of the Association of Professional Chaplains (N = 266) provide a quantified and nuanced picture of how chaplains perceive nurse collaboration and provision of spiritual care. This study not only provides evidence that can inform chaplain and nurse practice, but also an instrument for measuring perceptions about collaboration to provide spiritual care.

Experience and Views of Oncology and Palliative Care Professionals on a Corounding Model of Care for Inpatients With Advanced Cancer

BACKGROUND

Palliative care is associated with better outcomes in advanced cancer, but there is limited research comparing different models of palliative care delivery alongside oncology care. For inpatients with cancer, palliative care is mostly delivered through a consult service, primarily relying on oncologist-initiated referrals to a separate specialist palliative care team. In our hospital setting, we piloted a palliative care and oncology corounding model of care.

AIM

To explore the views and experience of oncology and palliative care professionals on the corounding model compared to an inpatient consult service.

DESIGN

A qualitative study nested within a pre-post study of the corounding model of care, with semistructured interviews using thematic analysis.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Eleven doctors and nurses involved in the pilot corounding model were interviewed.

RESULTS

Two main themes emerged: (1) the efficiency of care delivery and (2) quality of patient care. The theme on the efficiency of care delivery was related to access to palliative care input, team communications, and parallel workflow. The quality of patient care was described in terms of holistic approach to cancer care and rapport building with patients and their families. Most participants acknowledged positive aspects of the corounding model, yet some minor concerns were reported, such as disagreements between oncology and palliative care professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insights into the benefits and drawbacks of a corounding model of care for inpatients. The views of health-care professionals can be incorporated into the development of integrated oncology and palliative care models to improve care for patients with advanced cancer.

Multicomponent Palliative Care Interventions in Advanced Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Many patients live with serious chronic or terminal illnesses. Multicomponent palliative care interventions have been increasingly utilized in patient care; however, it is unclear what is being implemented and who is delivering these interventions.

OBJECTIVES

To (1) describe the delivery of multicomponent palliative care interventions, (2) characterize the disciplines delivering care, (3) identify the components being implemented, and (4) analyze whether the number of disciplines or components being implemented are associated with positive outcomes.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

STUDY SELECTION

English-language articles analyzing multicomponent palliative care interventions.

OUTCOMES MEASURED

Delivery of palliative interventions by discipline, components of palliative care implemented, and number of positive outcomes (eg, pain, quality of life).

RESULTS

Our search strategy yielded 71 articles, which detailed 64 unique multicomponent palliative care interventions. Nurses (n = 64, 88%) were most often involved in delivering care, followed by physicians (n = 43, 67%), social workers (n = 33, 52%), and chaplains (n = 19, 30%). The most common palliative care components patients received were symptom management (n = 56, 88%), psychological support/counseling (n = 52, 81%), and disease education (n = 48, 75%). Statistical analysis did not uncover an association between number of disciplines or components and positive outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

While there has been growth in multicomponent palliative care interventions over the past 3 decades, important aspects require additional study such as better inclusion of key groups (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, end-stage renal disease, minorities, older adults); incorporating core components of palliative care (eg, interdisciplinary team, integrating caregivers, providing spiritual support); and developing ways to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that can be readily replicated and disseminated.

State of the Science of Spirituality and Palliative Care Research Part II: Screening, Assessment, and Interventions

The State of the Science in Spirituality and Palliative Care was convened to address the current landscape of research at the intersection of spirituality and palliative care and to identify critical next steps to advance this field of inquiry. Part II of the SOS-SPC report addresses the state of extant research and identifies critical research priorities pertaining to the following questions: 1) How do we assess spirituality? 2) How do we intervene on spirituality in palliative care? And 3) How do we train health professionals to address spirituality in palliative care? Findings from this report point to the need for screening and assessment tools that are rigorously developed, clinically relevant, and adapted to a diversity of clinical and cultural settings. Chaplaincy research is needed to form professional spiritual care provision in a variety of settings, and outcomes assessed to ascertain impact on key patient, family, and clinical staff outcomes. Intervention research requires rigorous conceptualization and assessments. Intervention development must be attentive to clinical feasibility, incorporate perspectives and needs of patients, families, and clinicians, and be targeted to diverse populations with spiritual needs. Finally, spiritual care competencies for various clinical care team members should be refined. Reflecting those competencies, training curricula and evaluation tools should be developed, and the impact of education on patient, family, and clinician outcomes should be systematically assessed.

Cancer Symptom Cluster Management

OBJECTIVES

To discuss the importance of cancer symptom clusters in clinical practice, review evidence for symptom cluster interventions, and make recommendations for symptom cluster identification, patient education, and management in clinical practice.

DATA SOURCES

Primary research and review articles identified through CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases.

CONCLUSION

Several studies have investigated interventions for multi-symptom management or have evaluated the secondary effects of a single-symptom intervention on related symptoms. To date, only five studies have tested an intervention designed to manage a specific cancer symptom cluster. Those studies used nonpharmacologic approaches (psycho-education, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and acupressure) to address the pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster, or the respiratory distress symptom cluster with some initial evidence of success. Further development and efficacy testing of symptom cluster interventions is needed.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Clinical practice can be guided by knowledge of individual and multi-symptom management, and clinical judgment regarding possible etiologies of cancer symptom clusters. Clinicians should be aware of co-occurring symptoms in their patients, educate and involve patients in identifying symptom clusters and aggravating/alleviating factors, and coordinate treatment recommendations using strategies that are likely to be beneficial across symptoms.

Do Korean Doctors Think a Palliative Consultation Team Would Be Helpful to Their Terminal Cancer Patients?

PURPOSE

Hospice and palliative care services (HPC) are not commonly utilized in Korea; however, palliative care teams (PCTs) have been found to be effective at addressing the shortcomings in HPC. In this study, we attempted to outline unmet palliative care needs of terminal cancer patients and the potential benefits of PCTs as perceived by doctors in Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We surveyed 474 doctors at 10 cancer-related academic conferences from June to November 2014 with a self-report questionnaire to assess their perceptions of end-of-life care needs and the expected effects of PCTs on caring for terminal cancer patients. Among those surveyed, 440 respondents who completed the entire questionnaire were analyzed.

RESULTS

In all domains, fewer participants reported satisfaction with palliative care services than those reporting needs (p < 0.001). The surveyed participants also reported difficulties with a shortage of time for treatment, psychological burden, lack of knowledge regarding hospice care, lengths of stay, and palliative ward availability. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female doctors (odds ratio [OR], 2.672; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.035 to 6.892), doctors who agreed that referring my patients to a HPC means I must give up on my patient (OR, 3.075; 95% CI, 1.324 to 7.127), and doctors who had no experience with HPC education (OR, 3.337; 95% CI, 1.600 to 7.125) were associated with higher expected effectiveness of PCT activities.

CONCLUSION

The PCT activities were expected to fill the doctor's perceived unmet HPC needs of terminal cancer patients and difficulties in communications.

Symptom severity of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care unit: longitudinal assessments of symptoms improvement

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the symptom severity of patients with advanced cancer in a palliative care unit and explored the factors associated with symptom improvement.

METHODS

This study was conducted in a palliative care unit in Taiwan between October 2004 and December 2009. Symptom intensity was measured by the "Symptom Reporting Form", and graded on a scale of 0 to 4 (0 = none, and 4 = extreme). These measures were assessed on the 1(st), 3(rd), 5(th), and 7(th) Day in the palliative care unit. The study data comprised routine clinical records and patients' demographic data. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to assess the symptom improvement, and investigate the factors associated with the symptom reporting form scores.

RESULTS

Among the 824 recruited patients with advanced cancer, pain (78.4%), anorexia (64.4%) and constipation (63.5%) were the most common and severe symptom. After controlling for other factors in the multivariate GEE model, the day of palliative care administration was a significant factor associated with all of the scales, except Days 7 on the dyspnoea and oedema scales and Day 5 on the anxiety scale. In addition, patients aged ≥ 65 years exhibited significantly lower scores on the pain, sleep disturbance, depression, and anxiety scales than did those aged < 65 years. Moreover, female patients exhibited higher scores on the vomiting, anorexia, oedema, depression, and anxiety scales than did male patients. Furthermore, patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer exhibited higher scores on the constipation, vomiting, anorexia, oedema, depression, and anxiety scales and lower scores on the dyspnoea scale than did those with lung cancer. Patients with breast cancer exhibited higher scores on the oedema scale and lower scores on the anxiety scale. Patients with genitourinary cancer exhibited higher scores on the vomiting and oedema scales and lower scores on the dyspnoea scale. Patients with head, neck, and oral cancer exhibited lower scores on the oedema scale alone.

CONCLUSION

The symptom severity declined during the first week in the palliative care unit. In addition, differences in sex and primary cancer sites may contribute to varying degrees of symptom improvement.

Putting evidence into practice: evidence-based interventions for depression

Depression is a distressing emotion that occurs during various times of the cancer trajectory. Depression often goes unrecognized and untreated, which can significantly affect cost, quality of life, and treatment adherence. The Oncology Nursing Society's Putting Evidence Into Practice depression project team reviewed current literature to identify evidence-based interventions to reduce depression in people with cancer. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions were evaluated, and opportunities for nurses to integrate recommendations into practice are offered in this article.

Appropriate and necessary oral care for people with cancer: guidance to obtain the right oral and dental care at the right time

PURPOSE

The identification of experienced and knowledgeable dental specialists to provide appropriate oral care for cancer patients, as well as the integration of this care within general oncology management, may be a challenge. This paper discusses the general and additional requirements for dental care providers to support the cancer patient and provide prevention and/or treatment for oral complications of cancer therapy.

METHODS

We performed a literature review of specific issues regarding the oral cavity and adjacent structures in the cancer patient, including detection and early diagnosis of oral malignancy. We incorporated the systemic effects of cancer and its therapy that affect oral disease and treatment. We present a summary of how to seek expert dental care for cancer patients and for referral from the dental and medical community.

RESULTS

Due to the complexity conferred by the disease and its treatment, cancer patients require educated, experienced dentists for treatment and/or prevention of oral-related morbidity. Correct diagnosis and evidence-based prophylactic and therapeutic oral care can significantly improve patient quality of life and reduce morbidity and healthcare costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The knowledge and expertise of dental professionals regarding prevention/treatment of complications and secondary malignant lesions in cancer patients are critical. Integration of oral care with the oncology care and in survivors requires effective communication between dental and medical providers beginning ideally at diagnosis. These clinicians may be identified at the cancer center, nearby hospital dental programs, and, less commonly, in the community.