bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of older adult symptom occurrence rates in a geriatric-oncology clinic with meta-analysis for adults receiving chemotherapy.
Authors: Flannery Marie Anne , Magnuson Allison , Guido Joseph John , Peppone Luke Joseph , Dale William , Mohile Supriya Gupta 
Published: February 2017

102 Background: The majority of cancers occur in older adults, yet there is limited information on their symptom experience because they are under-represented in studies. To address this gap we examined registry data from two partnered geriatric oncology clinics, our aims are to: 1) identify older patients’ symptom occurrence rates and 2) compare symptom occurrence rates to published norms for adults with cancer. Methods: At presentation, patients completed the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory with symptoms coded as present or absent. Prevalence rates were compared to rates from a meta-analysis (Reilly et al., 2013) of adult cancer patients receiving chemotherapy which included pooled data from 21 studies (age M = 58 years, Range 118 = 97 years.) Differences were tested with Chi-Square. Results: As compared to published data, older patients (N = 291, M = 80.6 years, SD = 6.47, 52% > 80 yrs.) reported higher rates for the following symptoms: drowsiness (65% vs. 43%), trouble remembering (60% vs. 44%), distress (50% vs. 41%), sadness (49% vs.34%) (p’s < .01), and dry mouth (55% vs. 48%, p = .03). Lower rates were reported for nausea/vomiting (23% vs 40%/ 13 vs 27%, p’s < .001). There was no significant difference for the rates of fatigue (60%), difficulty sleeping (52%), pain (50%), decreased appetite (49%), dyspnea (48%), and numbness/tingling (38%). Conclusions: Older adults referred to specialized geriatric oncology clinic present with multiple symptoms. These patients had a mean age of eighty, may reflect the frail and vulnerable and were not often receiving active treatment. Results reinforce that it is especially important to assess and intervene on cognitive and psychological status in older patients. Nausea/Vomiting were less common in older adults perhaps due to lower chemotherapy rates. Limitations exist as we were not able to control for other factors affecting symptoms in the analysis. Nonetheless, results are consistent with older adults reporting many symptoms at a similar or higher rate than prior studies including all adults receiving chemotherapy. Increased study of the symptom experience in older oncology patients is critical to advance palliative care and symptom science.
Predictors and prognostic importance of weight change in adult solid tumors.
Authors: Shrotriya Shiva , Walsh Declan , Aktas Aynur , Estfan Bassam N. 
Published: February 2017

103 Background: Body weight change in adults with solid tumors was examined in outpatients. Objective was to determine if demographics, clinical and biochemical characteristics were associated with change in weight between visit 1 and visit 2. Examine if weight change and related parameters were associated with survival. Methods: Electronic medical records (EMR) from a tertiary cancer center retrospectively reviewed from 2009-2011. Body weight and other clinical parameters on visit 1 - within a year post diagnosis; visit 2 ≥3 weeks after visit 1. Weight change categorized as: weight gain, 0-5%, 5.01-10%, >10%. Ordinal logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards utilized for WL predictors and prognostic factors respectively. Results: N = 5,901; Mean age (±SD): 61 ± 12 years; 82% were Caucasians; 16% African Americans. Common cancers were prostate 19%; breast 15%; lung 15%; head and neck 6%; colorectal 6%; others 12%. Metastatic disease was present in 18%. Bone, brain, lymph nodes – were common metastatic sites. 45% had radiotherapy; 41% chemotherapy. Median weight change from visit 1 to visit 2 = -1 (-48, 66) kgs. Weight loss (WL) in 57% (≤5%: 30%, 5.01-10%: 13%, >10%: 14%). Different primary cancer sites, number of metastatic sites, radiotherapy/chemotherapy/hormonal therapies, older age, body mass index (BMI), and albumin predicted weight change. Median survival in 5.01-10.0% WL= 9.4 months, >10.0% = 5.3 months, and not observed ≤ 5%. Conclusions: 1. Majority lost ≤5% of body weight by visit 2. 2. Esophagus, head and neck, and pancreas (primary) - the greatest risk of WL; prostate – lowest. 3. High BMI predicted greater WL compared to normal or underweight. 4. ≤5% WL had a survival advantage compared to 5.01-10% and >10%. 5. WL remained prognostic for survival after adjusting for other prognostic factors.
Defining high-quality palliative care in oncology practice: An ASCO/AAHPM Guidance Statement.
Authors: Bickel Kathleen Elizabeth , McNiff Kristen K. , Buss Mary K. , Kamal Arif , Lupu Dale , Abernethy Amy Pickar , Broder Michael S. , Shapiro Charles L. , Acheson Anupama Kurup , Malin Jennifer , Evans Tracey L. , Krzyzanowska Monika K. 
Published: February 2017

108 Background: When integrated into routine oncology care, palliative care can improve symptom burden, quality of life, and patient and caregiver satisfaction. However, not all oncology practices have access to subspecialty palliative medicine for referral. This project endeavored to define what constitutes high-quality primary palliative care as delivered by medical oncology practices. Methods: An expert steering committee developed a list of 966 palliative care service items, divided into nine domains, each describing an aspect of palliative care delivery for patients with advanced cancer. Using a modified Delphi methodology, 31 multi-disciplinary panelists ranked each service item according to importance, feasibility and scope. Results: Panelists endorsed the highest proportion of palliative care service items in the domains of End-of-Life Care (81%); Communication and Shared Decision-Making (79%); and Care Planning (78%). Lowest proportions were in: Spiritual and Cultural Assessment and Management (35%) and Psychosocial Assessment and Management (39%). In the largest domain, Symptom Assessment and Management, there was consensus that all symptoms should be assessed and managed at a basic level with more comprehensive management for common symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspnea and pain. Under the domain of Appropriate Palliative Care and Hospice Referral, there was consensus that oncology practices should be able to describe the difference between palliative care and hospice to patients and refer patients with an expected survival of under 3 months or poor performance status (Zubrod 3-4) to hospice. Conclusions: This statement describes high-quality palliative care for patients with advanced cancer or high symptom burden, as delivered by oncology practices. Oncology providers wishing to enhance palliative care delivery may find the guidance useful to inform operational changes and quality improvement efforts.
Pathways, partners and payers: The trifecta of palliative care integration.
Authors: Portman Diane G. , Thirlwell Sarah 
Published: February 2017

129 Background: Moffitt Cancer Center has developed proprietary oncology clinical pathways. Multiple external partnership agreements which require adoption of these pathways have been completed. Our Center has enacted new cancer care delivery and payment arrangements with payers to foster cost and quality balance via use of the pathways and earlier involvement of palliative care (PC). Methods: Executive and PC leadership collaborated with the clinical pathways and strategic alliance teams to identify high priority disease states for integration of PC. Working with oncologist pathway developers, critical junctures in the pathways for inclusion of PC consultation were proposed and refined. EHR mechanisms to promote pathway adherence by clinicians were initiated. The value of pathway utilization and care coordination to involve PC was promoted to prospective oncology partners and payers. Results: PC has been mandated in oncology clinical care pathways, with a focus on thoracic, breast, gastrointestinal, prostate, gynecologic and hematologic malignancies, as directed by specific payer arrangements. Partnerships have expanded, resulting in greater utilization of PC by other centers as well. Increased referral volumes to PC, broader symptom control, and enhanced advance care planning have resulted. Conclusions: Incorporation of PC in oncologic clinical care pathways, with dissemination to internal providers, external partners and as part of novel payment models, optimizes PC integration. [Table: see text]
Interdisciplinary palliative care for patients with lung cancer.
Authors: Ferrell Betty R. , Sun Virginia , Hurria Arti , Cristea Mihaela C. , Raz Dan , Kim Jae , Reckamp Karen L. , Williams Anna Cathy , Borneman Tami R. , Uman Gwen , Koczywas Marianna 
Published: February 2017

130 Background: Palliative care, including symptom management and attention to quality of life (QOL) concerns, should be addressed throughout the trajectory of a serious illness such as lung cancer. This study tested the effectiveness on an interdisciplinary palliative care intervention for patients with stage I-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Patients undergoing treatments for NSCLC were enrolled in a prospective, quasi-experimental study whereby the usual care group was accrued first followed by the intervention group. Patients in the intervention group were presented at interdisciplinary care meetings and appropriate supportive care referrals were made. They also received four educational sessions. In both groups, QOL, symptoms, and psychological distress were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using surveys which included the FACT-L, FACIT-Sp-12, LCS, and the Distress Thermometer. Results: A total of 491 patients were included in the primary analysis. Patients who received the intervention had significantly better scores for QOL (109.1 vs. 101.4; p < .001), symptoms (25.8 vs. 23.9; p < .001), spiritual well-being (38.1 vs. 36.2; p < .001), and lower psychological distress (2.2 vs. 3.3; p < .001) at 12 weeks, after controlling for baseline scores, compared to patients in the usual care group. Patients in the intervention group also had significantly higher numbers of completed advance care directives (44% vs. 9%; p < .001), and overall supportive care referrals (61% vs. 28%; p < .001). Conclusions: Interdisciplinary palliative care in the ambulatory care setting resulted in significant improvements in QOL, symptoms, and distress for NSCLC patients.
Palliative care consultation for patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials.
Authors: Nipp Ryan David , Powell Elizabeth , Moy Beverly 
Published: February 2017

139 Background: Cancer clinical trials often enroll patients with advanced cancer, yet trial participation should not preclude the appropriate use of palliative care (PC) services for these patients. We sought to describe rates and correlates of PC consultation in clinical trial patients and identify factors associated with use of PC. Methods: We prospectively collected data on patient characteristics and rates of PC consultation among all patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2014. We used multiple logistic regression with purposeful selection of covariates to identify factors associated with PC consultation. Results: Of 1,218 clinical trial patients (mean age = 58 years; 643 (53%) female), 781 (64%) were married and 851 (70%) had metastatic disease. All cancer types were represented, but hematologic cancers (21%) were most common. Of those who had tumor genotype testing, 340 (62%) had a somatic mutation. Overall, 177 (15%) received PC consultation. Of those with metastatic disease, 149 (18%) received a PC consult. Metastatic disease, being unmarried, and absence of a somatic tumor mutation correlated with receipt of a PC consult. Conclusions: We found that a minority of cancer clinical trial patients receive PC consultation. Having metastatic disease and being unmarried correlated with receipt of PC consultation, thus highlighting a population likely needing additional supportive care. Presence of a somatic mutation was inversely associated with receiving PC consultation, suggesting that disease biology may impact patients’ supportive care needs or presence of these mutations influences clinician decisions about the need for PC services. These data help identify the factors associated with appropriate use of PC, and add to our understanding about the use of these services in cancer clinical trial patients. [Table: see text]
Evaluation of the efficiency of an embedded palliative nurse practitioner in an oncology clinic.
Authors: Walling Anne M. , D'Ambruoso Sarah , Pietras Christopher , Malin Jennifer , Hurvitz Sara A. , Watts Frances , Ferrell Bruce , Zisser Ann , Wenger Neil 
Published: February 2017

146 Background: We embedded a palliative nurse practitioner in 2 oncologists’ clinics in March 2014 using a reproducible training program. After one year, patients with advanced cancer receiving care in the embedded model clinics, compared to other oncologists’ clinics, were more likely to have advance care planning performed and to die receiving hospice. In order to expand the intervention to other oncologists, we evaluated the efficiency in our model of care delivery. Methods: We reviewed overall caseload and a subset of patient encounters in depth to understand how much of the NP's practice could be conducted by other staff to inform alternate clinical models of palliative care delivery in an oncology clinic. Overall time spent and time spent per task (Symptom Assessment Basic (SAB), Symptom Assessment Medical (SAM), Symptom Assessment Psychosocial (SAP), Communication Basic (CB), Communication Complex (CC)) was recorded for 16 patient encounters. We also completed 3 days of time motion study in which a trained observer tracked the NP's daily activities from minute to minute. Results: After part-time clinical participation over the first year of the program, the NP had seen 68 initial consults and 141 follow-up consults, which were potentially billable. She also had 120 encounters where she met a patient with an oncologist and 158 email or phone encounters that were not billable. Mean duration of a visit was 56 minutes (range 40-70 minutes) and about half of this time was spent on symptom assessment and communication topics requiring an MD or NP (SAM and CC), whereas half of the time was spent on topics that potentially could be covered by an RN (SAB or CB) or an MSW (SAB, SAP, CB). Time motion study revealed that a significant amount of time was spent with email correspondence and talking with other providers for care coordination. Conclusions: Palliative care is time consuming and much of the work is not reimbursed by a traditional fee for service model. Approximately half of the time spent by the NP in our embedded program potentially could have been completed by an RN or other interdisciplinary staff with training in palliative care under supervision of a physician. We plan to add an RN case management component to our model of care delivery.
Evaluation of spiritual needs assessments in oncology palliative care: Results of an improvement project.
Authors: Thirlwell Sarah , Storms Valerie , Kennedy Mareda , Portman Diane G. 
Published: February 2017

161 Background: Addressing all facets of serious illness requires attention to patients’ spiritual concerns. At our Cancer Center, we sought to ensure that palliative care (PC) inpatients received evidence-based spiritual care. Methods: Chaplaincy Care, Supportive Care Medicine, and Quality and Safety Departments partnered to improve spiritual care using an iterative Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle approach. Evidence-based spiritual practices were defined in accordance with the Association of Professional Chaplains and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality PC of the National Consensus Project. As a member of the Global Palliative Care Quality Alliance, we also used the web-based Quality Data Collection Tool (QDACT) to guide spiritual assessment. Electronic health record templates were revised to support complete and timely documentation. We monitored performance based on National Quality Forum Measure #1647 for discussion of spiritual/religious concerns. Performance was reviewed monthly by Leadership and with the Chaplaincy Staff. Opportunities to improve performance were discussed and adjustments in practice were made. Results: A total of 1609 oncology patients (average of 89/month) were seen by the inpatient PC team from November 2013–April 2015. With transparent performance reporting and resolution of barriers to spiritual assessment, an increase from 36 to 96% was noted for the percentage of patients with documented spiritual or religious concerns. Spiritual assessment using QDACT indicated that most patients report high spiritual well-being, spiritual peace, and a religious affiliation. Conclusions: As the result of our efforts, the majority of PC oncology patients at our center now have assessment and documentation of spiritual and religious concerns. A team-based approach to quality improvement successfully fostered the integration of spiritual care into oncology palliative care. [Table: see text]
Yoga in a palliative care suite: Promoting self-care amongst nurses and practitioners.
Authors: Gancio Cheryl , Earle Bridget 
Published: February 2017

169 Background: North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset, NY has a thriving in-patient palliative medicine consult service and a 10 bed palliative care suite (PCS). The PCS specializes in managing and treating symptoms as well as the psycho-social, interpersonal and emotional needs of our patients and families. Approximately 80% of the admitted patients expire on the unit. This high rate of patient expiration presents a unique challenge for staff working in this setting. In order to promote self-care and prevent burnout we implemented a yoga program for the nurses and practitioners in the PCS. Our goal was to assess the effectiveness of the yoga program on staff well-being and perceptions on the unit. Methods: We started with an evidence based literature search to validate the high amount of burnout in the clinical setting amongst staff and the benefits of yoga on reducing stress and promoting self-care. A fellow nurse certified yoga instructor was identified to run each session. Participation waivers were obtained from all staff. The yoga program started in June 2013 once to twice weekly in the PCS. All participants were surveyed to evaluate compassion fatigue, burnout and perception of organizational involvement using the professional quality of life scale (ProQOL). Results: There were a total of 23 subjects; 13 (56.52%) participated in yoga and 10 (43.48%) did not. Most of the participants were female and registered nurses. Results of the ProQOL showed no significant difference in compassion fatigue but the majority of subjects reported high perception of organizational involvement from their managers after the program was implemented. Conclusions: The program was feasible, of low cost and sustainable although we did face some challenges. It further identified the value of support from management to improve practitioner self-care and burnout. Our future plans include, assessing effectiveness on a larger scale, offering yoga to patients and family and continuing to implement the project on a more structured basis in the PCS.
Palliative care in a Dutch hospital: Developing a digital care pathway for palliative care.
Authors: Van Der Padt-Pruijsten Annemieke , Oostergo Tanja , Van Der Rijt Carin C. D. , van der Heide Agnes , Leys Rineke 
Published: February 2017

17 Background: Awareness is growing that palliative care is an important part in the hospital. It is aimed to improve the quality of life of patients and their relatives in the end-stage of a disease by a multidimensional approach. Prior to the development and implementation of a digital Care Pathway for Palliative Care, we wanted to map the palliative care process during the last hospitalization prior to death of patients with malignancies. Methods: We studied the medical files of patients who died in the period 1 July 2011 – 1 July 2012 within six months after having been admitted to the Department of Oncology and Lung diseases in a general hospital. A checklist was used to collect data about the patients’ diagnosis; the care that was provided during their last stay in the hospital; and about characteristics of the dying process. Results: In total 149 medical records were examined. Most of the patients (78%) were admitted because of complications or progression of the disease. During their last hospitalization, 90% of the patients underwent radiologic tests and 97% underwent blood tests. Furthermore, 38% of the patients received chemotherapy. Of all patients, 55% died during their last stay in the hospital. Medical files contained limited information about the care process: 18% contained information about provision of information to the general practitioner (GP) during admission, 78% contained reports of bad-news conversations. In 36%, the patient’s preference concerning their place of death was unknown. Further, there was no optimal communication with the GP after the patient had died in the hospital; 87% of the GP’s were informed. Conclusions: Palliative care in the hospital was found to involve suboptimal communication on several important topics. A structured medical file to guide palliative care may contribute to improvement of the care process. We are now evaluating the effects of a digital Care Pathway for Palliative Care, that includes ‘marking’ of the palliative phase of a disease and supports adequate communication, advanced care planning, multidisciplinary cooperation and continuity of care.
Concordance with the ASCO Provisional Clinical Opinion on the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care in Ontario.
Authors: Zwicker Victoria , Forster Katharina , Gollnow Angelika , Liu Amy , Sun Jingxian , Tabing Reena , Tyrrell Ashley , Urowitz Sara , Wentlandt Kirsten 
Published: February 2017

170 Background: In 2012, ASCO released a Provisional Clinical Opinion for patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the need for integration of palliative care services concurrent with standard treatment from the time of diagnosis. To understand if this recommendation is being followed in Ontario, provincial administrative data was used to explore concordance. Methods: Various aspects of concordance were considered including: whether and when in the treatment trajectory patients received palliative care, and how much care was received. For Phase 1 of the analysis, a provincial database of outpatient cancer care was used to identify services received within Ontario’s regional cancer centers (RCCs) and select partner hospitals. The Ontario Cancer Registry and Staging databases were used to identify the patient cohort. The cohort included patients diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013. Results: Phase 1 results indicate that 41% of patients received palliative and/or psychosocial oncology care at the RCC or partner hospital after diagnosis. Those receiving palliative care first received services an average of 148 days after diagnosis. See Table below for detailed results. Conclusions: A growing body of literature has identified the benefits of concurrent palliative care. Knowing whether these services are being provided for the NSCLC population is a promising start to understanding and improving the delivery of palliative care in Ontario. Initial results suggest that there is a need for quality improvement in this area. Future phases will expand the analysis to include services received in additional settings such as hospitals and community. [Table: see text]