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Strahlentherapie und Onkologie
Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie 7/2019

01-07-2019 | Original Article

Palliative care in everyday practice of radiation oncologists

Results from a web-based survey among medical members of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO)

Authors: Janina Fels, Steffi Pigorsch, MD, Prof. Hilke Vorwerk, Prof. Rita Engenhart-Cabillic, Prof. Birgitt van Oorschot

Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie | Issue 7/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about the attitudes of radiation oncologists towards palliative care, about their competences in this field, and about the collaboration with palliative care specialists. Our aim was to close this gap and understand more about the importance of an additional qualification in palliative care.

Methods

Medical members of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) were electronically surveyed during November–December 2016.

Results

The survey was emailed successfully to 1110 addressees, whereas a total of 205 questionnaires were eligible for analysis (response rate 18.4%). 55 (26.8%) of the respondents had an additional qualification in palliative care. Physicians who had an additional qualification in palliative care (PC qualification) reported palliative care needs for their patients more frequently than the other respondents (89.0 vs. 82.7%, p = 0.008). Furthermore, they were most likely to report a high confidence in palliative care competences, such as “communication skills & support for relatives” (83.6 vs. 59.3%, p = 0.013), “symptom control,” and “pain management” (94.5 vs. 67.7%, p < 0.001 and 90.9 vs. 73.3%, p = 0.008, respectively). Respondents with a PC qualification more often involved palliative care specialists than the other respondents (63.3 vs. 39.3%, p = 0.007). Perceived main barriers regarding palliative care in radiation oncology included time aspects (9.2%), stigmata (8.5%), and the lack of interdisciplinary collaboration (8.5%).

Conclusions

This analysis demonstrated that aspects of palliative care strongly impact on daily practice in radiation oncology. Additional qualifications and comprehensive training in palliative medicine may contribute to improved patient care in radiation oncology.
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Metadata
Title
Palliative care in everyday practice of radiation oncologists
Results from a web-based survey among medical members of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO)
Authors
Janina Fels
Steffi Pigorsch, MD
Prof. Hilke Vorwerk
Prof. Rita Engenhart-Cabillic
Prof. Birgitt van Oorschot
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Strahlentherapie und Onkologie / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 0179-7158
Electronic ISSN: 1439-099X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-018-1403-2

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