Concurrent Specialized Palliative Care Upon Initiation of First-Line Chemotherapy for Cancer Progression

Abstract

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of specialized palliative care (PC) administered at the time of administration of first-line chemotherapy for cancer progression.

Methods:

Patients who received regular specialist PC concomitantly with first-line chemotherapy after being diagnosed with progressive disease assigned to PC group. Patients transferred to palliative care unit (PCU) after discontinuation of chemotherapy were assigned to standard care (SC) group. We evaluated quality of palliative care using Support Team Assessment Schedule, quality of life (QOL) using Good Death Inventory, and short-term mortality in PCU.

Results:

A total of 28 and 63 patients patients were assigned to PC and SC groups, respectively. Physical symptoms, anxiety, communication scores, and QOL scores were significantly higher in the PC group (P < .001). Short-term mortality (<14 days) was significantly higher in the SC group (P = .0005).

Conclusion:

This approach may facilitate high quality of PC.