1
|
Di Lorenzo S, Mozzi L, Salmaso F, Silvagni C, Soffientini S, Valenti V, Zagonel V. A multicentre survey on the perception of palliative care among health professionals working in haematology. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:253. [PMID: 38536470 PMCID: PMC10973048 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08452-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with haematologic malignancies have less access to palliative care and are referred later than patients with solid tumours. We developed a survey to investigate this phenomenon, with the intention of analysing palliative care perceptions among health professionals who treat haematology patients and identifying barriers and facilitators to referrals to palliative care services. METHODS This was a multicentre exploratory descriptive web-based survey. A questionnaire was administered to 320 medical and nursing staff members from five Italian haematological units and San Marino's hospital to investigate their perception of palliative care. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. RESULTS A total of 142/320 healthcare professionals completed the survey, achieving a 44% response rate. Most of the respondents supported the integration of haematology and palliative care and were aware of the role of palliative care. Despite this, only half had an in-hospital palliative care team, and only a few had previously attended a specific training course. The majority agreed with palliative care referral when the prognosis was less than 3 months or when the symptoms were incoercible and with blood transfusions even in the last stages of the disease. Many considered the presence of an in-hospital palliative care team or a case manager, as well as structured palliative care training, as fundamental facilitators of palliative care referrals. CONCLUSION These results showed that healthcare professionals in haematology generally hold a favourable attitude and a high interest in integrating palliative care into their patients' care. The low referral rate could depend on clinical, cultural, and organisational issues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Di Lorenzo
- Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies Center, Carlo Melzi", Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Lisa Mozzi
- Clinical Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Ulss 8 Berica, "St. Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Flavia Salmaso
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV, Padua, Italy
| | - Claudia Silvagni
- Continuity of Care Center, Istituto Per La Sicurezza Sociale, Cailungo, Republic of San Marino
| | - Silvia Soffientini
- Integrated Home Care Unit, AULLS 6 Euganea - Terme Colli District, Padua, Italy
| | - Vanessa Valenti
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo Per Lo Studio Dei Tumori (IRST), "Dino Amadori", Via P. Maroncelli 40, Meldola, FC, 47014, Italy.
| | - Vittorina Zagonel
- Medical Oncology Unit 1, Department of Clinical and Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Galiano A, Feltrin A, Pambuku A, Lo Mauro L, De Toni C, Murgioni S, Soldà C, Maruzzo M, Bergamo F, Brunello A, Zagonel V. What do cancer patients experience of the simultaneous care clinic? Results of a cross-sectional study on patient care satisfaction. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7000. [PMID: 38400662 PMCID: PMC10891442 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Veneto Institute of Oncology has activated a simultaneous care outpatient clinic (SCOC) in which cancer patients with advanced-stage cancer are evaluated by oncologist and palliative care specialists. This cross-sectional study investigated patients' perceptions of the quality of this service. MATERIALS AND METHODS An ad-hoc self-administered questionnaire, developed by SCOC team, was used to assess the satisfaction of patients admitted at SCOC consultation. The questionnaire, in addition to the socio-demographic questions, contains eight questions with the Likert scale: time dedicated, feel listened to, feel understood, feel free to speak openly and to express doubts and concerns, feeling about information and indication received, level of empathy of health care and quality of the relationship, level of professional/quality of performance and utility of consultation, and one open-ended question. The questionnaire has been proposed to all 174 consecutively admitted patients at SCOC. RESULTS One hundred and sixty-two patients filled in the questionnaire: 66.7% were male, median age was 71 years, 88.3% had metastatic disease. The time dedicated to SCOC consultation was judged more than adequate (55%) or adequate (35%) by 90% of subjects. Patients completely satisfied about being listened to were 92.5%, with 80.9% being completely satisfied with understanding of their issues and 92% with the freedom to speak and express doubts. Usefulness of the SCOC was rated as excellent by 40% and good by 54.4% of patients. No statistically significant differences were observed in the responses to the questions by gender, age (< or ≥70 years old) and type of tumor. CONCLUSION Our study shows high levels of satisfactions after SCOC consultation in advanced cancer subjects. Patients' feedback confirmed that SCOC model was effective in helping them during their treatment journey and decision at the end of life. This study encouraged us to enhance our practice of SCOC consultation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE A joint evaluation of patients living with cancer by oncologist and palliative care team (SCOC-embedded model), has shown to enhance patients' experience/satisfaction with care-such as listening, understanding, receiving information, symptom control, and decision about future, independently of age, gender, and kind of tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Galiano
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | | | - Ardi Pambuku
- Pain Therapy and Palliative Care UnitVeneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Leda Lo Mauro
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Chiara De Toni
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Sabina Murgioni
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Caterina Soldà
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Marco Maruzzo
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Francesca Bergamo
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Antonella Brunello
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| | - Vittorina Zagonel
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV‐IRCCSPaduaItaly
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Maltoni M, Caraceni A, Klepstad P, Rossi R. Editorial: Early palliative care for cancer patients. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1207587. [PMID: 37427138 PMCID: PMC10325851 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1207587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Maltoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Augusto Caraceni
- Palliative care, Pain Therapy and Rehabilitation Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pal Klepstad
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Romina Rossi
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Advanced Adrenocortical Carcinoma: From Symptoms Control to Palliative Care. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235901. [PMID: 36497381 PMCID: PMC9739560 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is often poor: in the case of metastatic disease, five-year survival is reduced. Advanced disease is not a non-curable disease and, in referral centers, the multidisciplinary approach is the standard of care: if a shared decision regarding several treatments is available, including the correct timing for the performance of each one, overall survival is increased. However, many patients with advanced ACC experience severe psychological and physical symptoms secondary to the disease and the cancer treatments. These symptoms, combined with existential issues, debase the quality of the remaining life. Recent strong evidence from cancer research supports the early integration of palliative care principles and skills into the advanced cancer patient's trajectory, even when asymptomatic. A patient with ACC risks quickly suffering from symptoms/effects alongside the disease; therefore, early palliative care, in some cases concurrent with oncological treatment (simultaneous care), is suggested. The aims of this paper are to review current, advanced ACC approaches, highlight appropriate forms of ACC symptom management and suggest when and how palliative care can be incorporated into the ACC standard of care.
Collapse
|
5
|
Bigi S, Ganfi V, Borelli E, Potenza L, Artioli F, Eliardo S, Mucciarini C, Cottafavi L, Ferrari U, Lombardo L, Cagossi K, Pietramaggiori A, Fantuzzi V, Bernardini I, Cruciani M, Cacciari C, Odejide O, Adolfo Porro C, Zimmermann C, Efficace F, Bruera E, Luppi M, Bandieri E. Perceptions of Death Among Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Early Palliative Care and Their Caregivers: Results from a Mixed-Method Analysis. Oncologist 2022; 28:e54-e62. [PMID: 36320128 PMCID: PMC9847550 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oncologists are often concerned that talking about death with patients may hinder their relationship. However, the views of death held by patients have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to describe the perception of death among patients with advanced cancer receiving early palliative care (EPC) and their caregivers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on 2 databases: (a) transcripts of open-ended questionnaires administered to 130 cancer patients receiving EPC with a mean age of 68.4 years and to 115 primary caregivers of patients on EPC with a mean age of 56.8; (b) texts collected from an Italian forum, containing instances of web-mediated interactions between patients and their caregivers. RESULTS Quantitative analysis shows that: (a) patients and caregivers are not afraid of speaking about death; (b) patients and caregivers on EPC use the word "death" significantly more than patients on standard oncology care (SOC) and their caregivers (P < .0001). For both participants on EPC and SOC, the adjectives and verbs associated with the word "death" have positive connotations; however, these associations are significantly more frequent for participants on EPC (verbs, Ps < .0001; adjectives, Ps < .003). Qualitative analysis reveals that these positive connotations refer to an actual, positive experience of the end of life in the EPC group and a wish or a negated event in the SOC group. CONCLUSIONS EPC interventions, along with proper physician-patient communication, may be associated with an increased acceptance of death in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bigi
- Corresponding author: Sarah Bigi, PhD, Department of Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1—20123 Milan, Italy. Tel: +39 02 7234 3042; Fax: +39 02 7234 3667; ; or, Mario Luppi, MD, PhD, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Hematology Unit and Chair, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71—41124 Modena, Italy. Tel: +39 059 4224641 (studio)—5570 (free-set); Fax: +39 059 4224429l;
| | - Vittorio Ganfi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Leonardo Potenza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy,Hematology Unit and Chair, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Modena, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Artioli
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Sonia Eliardo
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Claudia Mucciarini
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Luca Cottafavi
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Umberto Ferrari
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Laura Lombardo
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Katia Cagossi
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Fantuzzi
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bernardini
- Oncology and Palliative Care Units, Civil Hospital Carpi, USL, Carpi, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Cacciari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy,Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mario Luppi
- Corresponding author: Sarah Bigi, PhD, Department of Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1—20123 Milan, Italy. Tel: +39 02 7234 3042; Fax: +39 02 7234 3667; ; or, Mario Luppi, MD, PhD, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Hematology Unit and Chair, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71—41124 Modena, Italy. Tel: +39 059 4224641 (studio)—5570 (free-set); Fax: +39 059 4224429l;
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Galiano A, Schiavon S, Nardi M, Guglieri I, Pambuku A, Martino R, Bolshinsky M, Murgioni S, Intini R, Soldà C, Marino D, Daniel F, De Toni C, Pittarello C, Chiusole B, Prete AA, Bimbatti D, Nappo F, Caccese M, Bergamo F, Brunello A, Lonardi S, Zagonel V. Simultaneous care in oncology: Assessment of benefit in relation to symptoms, sex, and age in 753 patients. Front Oncol 2022; 12:989713. [PMID: 36313660 PMCID: PMC9614371 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.989713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early activation of palliative care for patients with advanced cancer is central in the treatment trajectory. At the Veneto Institute of Oncology, a simultaneous-care outpatient clinic (SCOC) has been active since 2014, where patients are evaluated by an oncologist together with a palliative care team. Recently, we reported on consecutive patients admitted at SCOC from 2018 to 2021 in terms of appropriateness, process, and outcome indicators. Here, we report further analysis in the same group of 753 patients, evaluating other parameters and the correlation between symptom intensity, gender, age, and survival. METHODS SCOC data were retrieved from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS Among the patients, 42.2% were women, and the median age was 68 years, with 46.7% of patients aged ≥70 years. The most prevalent disease type was gastrointestinal cancer (75.2%), and 90.9% of the patients had metastatic disease. The median score for the distress thermometer was 4; the vast majority of the patients (98.6%) reported physical problems, and 69.4% presented emotional issues. Younger women demonstrated a significantly greater median distress than other patients (p=0.0018). Almost all symptoms had a higher prevalence on the 0-3 Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) score, except for fatigue. About 43.8% of the patients received systemic anticancer treatment (SAT) in the last 60 days of life, 15.0% of whom received SAT in the last month and 3.1% in the last 2 weeks. For some symptoms, women frequently had more ESAS >3. Pain and nausea were significantly less reported by older patients compared with younger adults. Men had a lower risk of having MUST score ≥ 2 (p=0.0311). Men and older patients showed a lower prognosis awareness (p=0.0011 and p=0.0049, respectively). Older patients received less SAT within the last 30 days of life (p=0.0006) and had death risk decreased by 20.0%. CONCLUSION Our study identified two subgroups of patients with advanced cancer who require special attention and support due to important symptoms' burden detected by Patient Reported Outcome Measures tests: women and younger adults. These categories of patients require special attention and should be provided early access at SCOC. The role of an oncologist remains crucial to intercept all patients in need of early palliative care and balancing trade-offs of anticancer treatment in advanced metastatic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Galiano
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefania Schiavon
- Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Nardi
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Ardi Pambuku
- Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Rosalba Martino
- Hospital Psychology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Maital Bolshinsky
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Sabina Murgioni
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Rossana Intini
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Caterina Soldà
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Dario Marino
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Daniel
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Chiara De Toni
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Chiara Pittarello
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Benedetta Chiusole
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandra Anna Prete
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Davide Bimbatti
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Floriana Nappo
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Caccese
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Bergamo
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonella Brunello
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Lonardi
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 3, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Vittorina Zagonel
- Department of Oncology, Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|