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Palliative Care Referral Patterns for Adolescent and Young Adult Patients at a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Bethany J Lockwood1, Olanipekun L Ntukidem2, Sarah E Ehrman1
1Division of Palliative Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
|July 25, 2020
Summary
Palliative care (PC) improves cancer care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). However, PC referrals remain low for eligible AYAs, highlighting a need for improved access to supportive oncology services.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Medicine
Background:
- Palliative care (PC) is crucial for managing symptoms and improving quality of life for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer.
- Despite established benefits, PC integration into routine cancer care for AYAs remains suboptimal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize referral patterns of PC services for AYAs aged 18-39 years undergoing cancer treatment.
- To identify barriers and facilitators for improving PC access in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients aged 18-39 years over a 3-year period.
- Analysis of PC referral rates, settings, and association with cancer type and survival.
Main Results:
- Only 8.4% of eligible AYAs were referred to PC during oncologic treatment.
- Most referrals (73%) occurred in the inpatient setting.
- Referrals were more frequent for cancer types with high symptom burden or poor prognosis, notably lung cancer (51% referral rate).
Conclusions:
- Current PC referral rates for AYAs with cancer are low, indicating significant gaps in access.
- Targeted interventions are needed to increase PC utilization across diverse cancer types and settings for AYAs.
- Improving PC access can enhance supportive care and outcomes for young adults with cancer.
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