The integration of palliative care into treatment of oncology patients at the Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV): The interdisciplinary clinic of simultaneous care.

Authors

null

Antonella Galiano

Clinical and Experimental Oncology Department, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy

Antonella Galiano, Stefania Schiavon, Antonella Brunello, Michela Michielotto, Irene Guglieri, Maria Teresa Nardi, Evelina Lamberti, Annalisa Stablum, Eleonora Capovilla, Leonardo Trentin, Vittorina Zagonel

Organizations

Clinical and Experimental Oncology Department, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Clinical and Experimental Oncology Department, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto - IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Psychoncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto -IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Clinical and Nutrition Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Psychoncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IRCCS, Padova, Italy, Clinical and Experimental Oncology Department, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy

Research Funding

Other

Background: WHO defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (pts) and their families facing problems associated with life threatening illnesses. This occurs by means of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other problems physical, psychosocial, and spiritual. Recently, palliative care has been incorporated into the treatment of oncology pts earlier in the course of their disease. We aimed to explore this approach at our institution. Methods: We established an interdisciplinary clinic at IOV with the goal of promoting pts’ comprehensive support by integrating palliative care into active oncology treatments. Our primary objectives were to: optimize the quality of life of pts at every stage of their disease, ensure continuity of care through proper coordination of available services and avoid a sense of abandonment at the end of life. Pts included were those with advanced disease who had a life expectancy of less than one year, pts who had symptomatic disease regardless of prognosis, and pts who were considered frail, because of clinical, social, psychological, spiritual, logistical, and economical criteria. The multidisciplinary team consisted of a medical oncologist, a palliative care physician, a psychologist, a nurse and a nutritionist. Results: Between March 2014 and March 2016, 337 pts were visited, with different types of cancer. Median age was 69 (range: 34-93), 44% were men, median PS (ECOG) was 1.5, 47% were undergoing anti-cancer treatment. Reasons for referral included: physical complaints (71%), psychosocial issues (30.3%), nutritional problems (38%) and social problems (7%). For the 46% of patients, domiciliary health care was activated directly by the Local Health Department or through the General Practitioner; specific action have been made in relations to the problems encountered. Conclusions: The Interdisciplinary Clinic of Simultaneous Care carried out at IOV represents a successful pilot experience that proposes an organizational model for early integration of palliative care as an integral part of treating the oncology patient.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2016 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Evaluation and Assessment of Patient Symptoms and Quality of Life,Integration and Delivery of Palliative Care in Cancer Care

Sub Track

Models of care delivery

Citation

J Clin Oncol 34, 2016 (suppl 26S; abstr 150)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2016.34.26_suppl.150

Abstract #

150

Poster Bd #

H4

Abstract Disclosures

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