Oncology fellows' current practice regarding concurrent outpatient oncology and palliative care.

Authors

null

Amy Johnson

Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Amy Johnson, Lyle Fettig, Erin V. Newton, Amber Comer

Organizations

Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, IU Simon Cancer Center, Westfield, IN, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN

Research Funding

Other

Background: It is accepted that Palliative Care provides additional support and improves overall care to oncology patients. Literature supports early referral and integration of Palliative Care with standard oncology care and is a guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In order to make palliative care integration a standard of care, Oncology Fellows should be learning to integrate during their fellowship years. There is little information regarding the Palliative Care experience in the outpatient setting for Oncology Fellows in the United States. This study looked at the current practice model in regards to concurrent Oncology and Palliative Care in the outpatient setting. Methods: An electronic nationwide survey of medical Oncology Fellows was conducted in the second half of the academic year in 2018. Results: 43 of 191, 22.5% Fellows contacted at 17 institutions responded. 98% of the fellows’ hospital systems offered ambulatory palliative care with 79% having a palliative care specialist available during their ambulatory Oncology clinic. 55% of the Fellows’ patient referrals are occurring when they still have multiple lines of cancer directed treatment planned, and the most common initial referral reason is for symptom management. 97% of fellows agree or strongly agree that it is appropriate to refer patients to ambulatory Palliative Care while patients are still undergoing active cancer treatment. 95% indicate they would strongly agree or agree with having a Palliative Care team in their future outpatient clinics. Although no participants stated their initial consult request was for psychosocial and/or spiritual support, 95% strongly agreed or agreed that Palliative Care helps ensure these issues are addressed. Conclusions: Early integration of Palliative Care is occurring in the 17 responding institutions around the country as 97% of Fellows agree or strongly agree that it is appropriate to refer patients to ambulatory Palliative Care while patients are still undergoing active cancer treatment. 95% of oncology fellows indicate they would strongly agree or agree with having a Palliative Care team in their future outpatient clinics.

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

2018 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Communication and Shared Decision Making; Integration and Delivery of Palliative and Supportive Care; and Psychosocial and Spiritual/Cultural Assessment and Management

Track

Integration and Delivery of Palliative and Supportive Care,Communication and Shared Decision Making,Psychosocial and Spiritual/Cultural Assessment and Management

Sub Track

Integration and Delivery of Palliative and Supportive Care

Citation

J Clin Oncol 36, 2018 (suppl 34; abstr 122)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2018.36.34_suppl.122

Abstract #

122

Poster Bd #

E10

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Rubina Ratnaparkhi

Abstract

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Knowledge of palliative care and barriers to access among outpatients with cancer.

First Author: Lindsay Schlichte

First Author: Tara L. Kaufmann