Team-based outpatient early palliative care: a complex cancer intervention

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Effectiveness of early palliative care in advanced cancer is known.
• Detailed descriptions of early palliative care interventions are lacking.
• Need for a structured, replicable intervention model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the conception and evaluation of a team-based outpatient early palliative care (TO-EPC) intervention.
• To describe the components, principles, and domains of the TO-EPC intervention.
• To provide a framework for implementing and adapting early palliative care.

Main Methods:

• Intervention development based on palliative care theory, prior interventions, and guidelines.
• Feasibility testing and piloting in a phase 2 trial.
• Evaluation in a large cluster randomized trial and qualitative research with patients/caregivers.

Main Results:

• Developed a conceptual framework for TO-EPC with four principles and four domains.
• Key domains: coping/support, symptom control, decision-making, future planning.
• Care principles: flexible, attentive, patient-led, family-centered.

Conclusions:

• The described TO-EPC intervention offers a structured approach.
• Facilitates implementation for palliative care teams.
• Supports replication by researchers and adaptation by oncologists.