Outreach program of palliative care team
Imura, C.; Fujimoto, K.; Nozue, Y.; Hosoda, O.; Ono, H.; Inoue, S.; Morita, T.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 37(5): 863-870
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 20495317 Document Number: 638574
The primary aim of this study is to clarify the participant-evaluated usefulness of an outreach program by a palliative care team. The palliative care team participated in a community conference and clinical activity in collaboration with a community home care clinic once a month during one year. The palliative care team reviewed 44 patients, and gave 113 recommendations for 141 problems identified. The problems included physical symptoms (63%, including pain in 26%), psychological/spiritual issues (18%), family problems (6.4%), and the coordination of location of death (6.4%). 71% of participants rated the outreach problem as very useful and 29% found it useful. Usefulness for advising symptom control and developing collaborative relationship was high during the study periods, and usefulness for advising psychological care/communication and coordination of location of death gradually increased. In conclusion, an outreach program by a palliative care team could be useful for health care professionals in a community home clinic, and could contribute to better outcomes for cancer patients at home.