Supportive care centers: definition of excellence

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Supportive Care
• Cancer Treatment

Background:

• Despite advances in oncology, many cancer patients suffer from treatment-related symptoms and morbidity.
• Supportive care is crucial for managing these adverse effects, enhancing patient quality of life, and potentially improving survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the criteria for "excellence" in Supportive Care centers.
• To establish a framework for evaluating Supportive Care centers based on Multinational Association Supportive Care Cancer (MASCC) guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and guidelines related to supportive care in oncology.
• Analysis of criteria proposed by the Multinational Association Supportive Care Cancer (MASCC) for evaluating supportive care centers.

Main Results:

• Excellence in supportive care is characterized by patient-centeredness, dedicated multidisciplinary teams, and robust organizational models for symptom management.
• Key indicators include assessing patient needs, immediate evaluation and treatment of adverse effects, and adherence to clinical guidelines.
• Center size, patient volume, or academic affiliation are not prerequisites for achieving excellence.

Conclusions:

• Supportive Care centers play a vital role in mitigating cancer treatment side effects and improving patient outcomes.
• Implementing patient-centered care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practices are essential for defining excellent supportive care.
• Adherence to MASCC criteria can guide the development and recognition of high-quality supportive care services.