Avenues to integrate and improve care: Surgeon attitudes toward end-of-life care.

Authors

null

Jonathan Bergman

University of California, Los Angeles Medical Cent

Jonathan Bergman, Karl Lorenz, Charles Scales, Gery Ryan, Christopher Saigal, Carol Bennett, Mark Litwin

Organizations

University of California, Los Angeles Medical Cent, West Los Angeles Veterans Administration, RAND Corporation, Department of Urology, University of California, L

Research Funding

No funding sources reported
Background: To examine urology trainees’ views about the quality and current practices of end-of-life care, and to explore strategies for improving integration and quality of care. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 urology trainees from four institutions in different regions of the United States. Stage of training ranged from intern to senior urologic oncology fellow; all were clinically active at busy academic institutions caring for many patients with advanced malignancies. Open-ended questions allowed participants to express themselves independently, and follow-up discussions explored their perception of current end-of-life practices, as well as avenues for future integration and improvement. We analyzed transcripts using a multi-stage, cutting-and-sorting technique in an inductive approach based on grounded theory analysis. Results: Clinicians unanimously agreed that their patients do not currently receive ideal care and were unanimously interested in joining a team geared towards improving care at the end-of-life. They expressed a preference for a multidisciplinary team, although the precise role each wanted to play within the team varied. Better identification of depression, pain, and patient-centered goals to allow value-congruent care were high in priorities for improvement. Trainees sited the lack of an educational curriculum on end-of-life care as a barrier to improving care, and expressed a desire for formal education on this topic. Conclusions: Urology trainees do not think that current care at the end-of-life is ideal for patients, and are interested in participating as part of a multidisciplinary team to better care for these individuals. There was a unanimous consensus that end-of-life care should be formally taught to all intern and resident physicians, and care at the end-of-life must be integrated to pursue value-congruent care for each patient. In response to the information gathered, we built a web-based, interactive, self-directed learning module emphasizing high-quality end-of-life care, issues to address with patients during clinic visits, and integration of end-of-life care. We have also integrated palliative care into the team caring for our patients with advanced disease.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2012 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

General Poster Session A

Track

Involving Patients in Quality Care,Quality Measurement,Quality Improvement ,The Use of IT to Improve Quality

Sub Track

Communication and Decision-Making

Citation

J Clin Oncol 30, 2012 (suppl 34; abstr 16)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2013.31.31_suppl.16

Abstract #

16

Poster Bd #

C2

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Xhyljeta Luta

First Author: Melissa R Rosen

Abstract

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Multidisciplinary education and action to foster equitable cancer care.

First Author: Monica Augustyniak