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01-06-2018 | Original Article

Characteristics and care pathways of advanced cancer patients in a palliative-supportive care unit and an oncological ward

Authors: Sebastiano Mercadante, Paolo Marchetti, Claudio Adile, Amanda Caruselli, Patrizia Ferrera, Andrea Costanzi, Alessandra Casuccio

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 6/2018

Abstract

Background

A supportive palliative care unit (SPCU) may have a positive impact on patients’ care. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of patients admitted to a specialized SPCU and to a traditional oncologic ward (OW) in a consecutive sample of advanced cancer patients.

Methods

Data on patients demographics, reasons for and kind of admission, care-giver, anticancer treatments, being on/off treatment or uncertain, origin setting, who proposed hospital admission, the use of opioids, and hospitalization were gathered. The same parameters were recorded at discharge. A follow-up was performed by phone 1 month after discharge.

Results

Two-hundred patients were surveyed. Awareness of disease was more complete in OW patients (P = 0.001). Uncontrolled pain and symptoms were the prevalent reasons for admission to SPCU (P < 0.0005). Toxicity from chemotherapy was more frequently reported by OW patients (P = 0.001). SPCU patients received higher doses of opioids (P = 0.004). More SPCU patients were referred from home and were discharged home (P < 0.0005 and P = 0.018, respectively). Emergency admissions were more frequently reported in OW patients (P < 0.0005). One month after, more SPCU patients were at home and were still on active treatment (P = 0.002, and P = 0.05, respectively). More OW patients died within 1 month (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

SPCU allows a better planning admission to hospital and a better care trajectory in advanced cancer patients in comparison to a busy OW, where unselected emergencies more frequently occur.

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Title: Characteristics and care pathways of advanced cancer patients in a palliative-supportive care unit and an oncological ward
Authors: Sebastiano Mercadante
Paolo Marchetti
Claudio Adile
Amanda Caruselli
Patrizia Ferrera
Andrea Costanzi
Alessandra Casuccio
Publication date: 01-06-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 6/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-4037-5

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