MASCC/ESMO/EAPC survey of palliative programs.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Palliative care program structure is crucial for integrating services into cancer care.
• Understanding existing palliative care program structures is a necessary first step.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey existing palliative care programs to understand their structure.
• To identify characteristics of palliative care programs in cancer care.

Main Methods:

• Survey questionnaire developed and distributed to members of MASCC, ESMO, and EAPC.
• Descriptive statistics (numbers and percentages) and inferential statistics (Fisher's exact test, chi-Square test, Cochran-Armitage trend test, Wilcoxon rank sum test) were used.
• 62 program leaders completed the survey.

Main Results:

• Most programs existed for over 5 years, led by oncology-trained physicians.
• Consultative services and outpatient clinics were common; inpatient beds and hospices were less frequent.
• Patients were referred late in illness, with short survival times (23 days inpatient, 40 days outpatient).
• Less than half had fellowship programs, but most had research structures.

Conclusions:

• Findings differ from previous surveys, potentially reflecting European palliative care program structures.
• Similarities include high inpatient mortality and late outpatient referrals, confirming late integration of palliative care.
• The study confirms late patient referral to palliative care services.