Abstract
Context:
Patients with cancer-related pain and concurrent substance use disorder (SUD) present a unique set of challenges for palliative care clinicians. A structured forum for interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to effectively manage this complex population.
Objectives:
Describe the feasibility and acceptability of a palliative care Complex Pain Board (CPB), an interdisciplinary team meeting to provide concrete care recommendations for patients with cancer-related pain and concurrent SUD and/or psychosocial complexity.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of cases presented at CPB between May 2021 and June 2022 and a cross-sectional analysis of CBP participant surveys.
Results:
Among 28 cases included for analysis, gastrointestinal cancers (n = 7, 25.9%) and multiple myeloma (n = 5, 18.5%) were the most frequent cancer diagnoses. Primary reasons for referral were SUD (n = 22, 78.6%) and provider/team distress (n = 13, 46.4%). The most frequent recommendations made at CBP were encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration (n = 18, 64.3%), maintaining healthy boundaries (n = 15, 53.6%), and SUD management (n = 13, 46.4%). Of 14 scheduled meetings, most meetings involved the presentation of ≥1 cases (n = 12, 86%). Among 40 CBP participant surveys, most attendees (n = 38, 95%) were likely or highly likely to continue to attend.
Conclusion:
CPB is a feasible and acceptable intervention that allows for palliative care clinicians to collaborate and receive interdisciplinary team feedback and peer support on the management of patients with cancer-related pain and concurrent SUD and/or psychosocial complexity in the ambulatory care setting.
Key Message:
A regular, interdisciplinary team meeting (CPB) is a feasible and acceptable intervention to help palliative care clinicians manage challenging cases involving patients with cancer and concurrent SUD and/or psychosocial complexity.
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Supplementary Material
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