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Roth C, Weiss K. Palliative Care Needs of Patients with Musculoskeletal Malignancies. Curr Oncol Rep 2024; 26:784-790. [PMID: 38789669 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-024-01543-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to assess the literature regarding current treatment options for the palliative care of patients with advanced musculoskeletal malignancies whether primary or metastatic. RECENT FINDINGS The inclusion of specialized palliative care physicians, in conjunction with surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, and mental health professionals, results in better control of end-of-life symptoms in both children and adults with terminal musculoskeletal malignancies. The palliative care of patients with musculoskeletal malignancies requires a multi-disciplinary team and benefits from specialized palliative care physicians. The unique impacts of musculoskeletal malignancies on ambulation and independence creates additional mental and physical burdens on patients and care-takers alike. Palliative care should focus on preserving ambulatory function and patient independence, in addition to managing chronic pain and other end-of-life symptoms common to these malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark Roth
- Division of Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Kurt Weiss
- Division of Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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2
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Broden EG, Mazzola E, DeCourcey DD, Blume ED, Wolfe J, Snaman JM. The roles of preparation, location, and palliative care involvement in parent-perceived child suffering at the end of life. J Pediatr Nurs 2023; 72:e166-e173. [PMID: 37355461 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Parents' perceptions of their child's suffering affect their bereavement experience. Identifying factors that shape parental perceptions of suffering could help build effective supportive interventions for children and parents navigating EOL and grief. We aimed to compare parent-perceived child suffering between diagnostic groups and identify related factors. DESIGN AND METHODS We combined databases from 3 surveys of parents whose children who died following cancer, a complex chronic condition (CCC), or advanced heart disease. We built multivariable logistic regression models to identify relationships between parent-perceived child suffering and parent/child, illness experience, and care-related factors. RESULTS Among 277 parents, 41% rated their child's suffering as moderate or high. Fifty-seven percent of parents whose child died from cancer reported that their child suffered "a lot" or "a great deal" at EOL, compared to 33% whose child died from a CCC, and 17% whose child died from heart disease (P < 0.001). Preparation for EOL symptoms was associated with decreased parent-perceived child suffering in multivariable modeling, with parents who were prepared for EOL 68% less likely to rate their child's suffering as high compared to those who felt unprepared (AOR: 0.32, CI [0.13-0.77], P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS Preparing families for their child's EOL may help mitigate lingering perceptions of suffering. Operationalizing preparation is crucial to optimizing family support during EOL care. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE Preparation for symptoms, and access to resources, including medical/psychosocial interventions and staff, may help ease parental perception of EOL suffering. Clinicians should prioritize preparing families for what to expect during a child's dying process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Broden
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Emanuele Mazzola
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danielle D DeCourcey
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Medical Critical Care, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Blume
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Snaman
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Bernier Carney KM, Goodrich G, Lao A, Tan Z, Kiza AH, Cong X, Hinderer KA. Palliative care referral criteria and application in pediatric illness care: A scoping review. Palliat Med 2023; 37:692-706. [PMID: 36971413 DOI: 10.1177/02692163231163258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specialty pediatric palliative care services can help to address unmet care needs for children with complex and serious illness. Current guidelines support the identification of unmet palliative care needs; however, it is unknown how these guidelines or other clinical characteristics influence pediatric palliative care referral in research and practice. AIM To evaluate the identification and application of palliative care referral criteria in pediatric illness care and research. DESIGN A scoping review with a content analysis approach to summarize results. DATA SOURCES Five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Academic Search Premier) were used to identify peer-reviewed literature published in English between January 2010 and September 2021. RESULTS We included 37 articles focused on the referral of pediatric patients to palliative care teams. The identified categories of referral criteria were: disease-related; symptom-related; treatment communication; psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual support; acute care needs; end-of-life care needs; care management needs; and self-referrals for pediatric palliative care services. We identified two validated instruments to facilitate palliative care referral and seven articles which described population-specific interventions to improve palliative care access. Nineteen articles implemented a retrospective health record review approach that consistently identified palliative care needs with varying rates of service use. CONCLUSIONS The literature demonstrates inconsistent methods for identifying and referring children and adolescents with unmet palliative care needs. Prospective cohort studies and clinical trials would inform more consistent pediatric palliative care referral practices. More research is needed on palliative care referral and outcomes in community-focused pediatrics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George Goodrich
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Amberly Lao
- Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Zewen Tan
- School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Xiaomei Cong
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- School of Nursing, Yale University, Orange, CT, USA
| | - Katherine A Hinderer
- School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
- Institute for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Connecticut Children's, Hartford, CT, USA
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4
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Roberts HJ, Wang Y, Spruit JL, Taylor L, Franson AT. The impact of clinical trial enrollment on specialty palliative care utilization in pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30115. [PMID: 36458446 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative care (PC) provides numerous benefits for children with cancer. Pediatric patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) are particularly well suited for early PC involvement given their high symptom burden and poor prognosis. However, studies continue to reveal that children with cancer, including HGG, have delayed PC involvement. We hypothesized that clinical trial enrollment may lead to a lack of or delay in PC involvement in this population. PROCEDURE For each patient in our cohort of 43 pediatric patients with HGG, demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic, clinical trial enrollment, and PC information were collected. Statistical analysis was performed comparing PC characteristics between patients who did and did not enroll in a clinical trial. RESULTS Seventy-two percent of patients had at least one visit with a PC provider. Fifty-six percent of patients enrolled in a clinical trial with HGG-directed therapy. Seventy-one percent of patients who enrolled in a clinical trial received specialty PC compared to 74% of non-trial participants (p = 1.000). Patients who enrolled in clinical trials received PC earlier in their disease course measured in days before death (mean = 177 days) compared to those who did not enroll (mean = 113 days, p = .180), though not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of clinical trial enrollment is high in patients with HGG and will likely increase as the genomic/epigenomic landscape of these tumors is better understood. As such, our data reassuringly suggest that trial participation does not interfere with the receipt of specialty PC in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly J Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jessica L Spruit
- Stepping Stones Pediatric Palliative Care, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Laura Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Stepping Stones Pediatric Palliative Care, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrea T Franson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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5
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Ebelhar J, DeGroote NP, Massie AM, Labudde E, Allen KE, Castellino SM, Wasilewski-Masker K, Brock KE. Differences in palliative opportunities across diagnosis groups in children with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30081. [PMID: 36377714 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood cancer causes significant physical and emotional stress. Patients and families benefit from palliative care (PC) to reduce symptom burden, improve quality of life, and enhance family-centered care. We evaluated palliative opportunities across leukemia/lymphoma (LL), solid tumors (ST), and central nervous system (CNS) tumor groups. PROCEDURE A priori, nine palliative opportunities were defined: disease progression/relapse, hematopoietic stem cell transplant, phase 1 trial enrollment, admission for severe symptoms, social concerns or end-of-life (EOL) care, intensive care admission, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status, and hospice enrollment. A single-center retrospective review was completed on 0-18-year olds with cancer who died from January 1, 2012 to November 30, 2017. Demographic, disease, and treatment data were collected. Descriptive statistics were performed. Opportunities were evaluated from diagnosis to death and across disease groups. RESULTS Included patients (n = 296) had LL (n = 87), ST (n = 114), or CNS tumors (n = 95). Palliative opportunities were more frequent in patients with ST (median 8) and CNS tumors (median 7) versus LL (median 5, p = .0005). While patients with ST had more progression/relapse opportunities (p < .0001), patients with CNS tumors had more EOL opportunities (p < .0001), earlier PC consultation, DNR status, and hospice enrollment. Palliative opportunities increased toward the EOL in all diseases (p < .0001). PC was consulted in 108 (36%) patients: LL (48%), ST (30%), and CNS (34%, p = .02). CONCLUSIONS All children with cancer incur many events warranting PC support. Patients with ST and CNS tumors had more palliative opportunities than LL, yet received less subspecialty PC. Understanding palliative opportunities within each disease group can guide PC utilization to ease patient and family stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Ebelhar
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicholas P DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - A McCauley Massie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emily Labudde
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kristen E Allen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sharon M Castellino
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Wasilewski-Masker
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katharine E Brock
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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6
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Brock KE, DeGroote NP, Roche A, Lee A, Wasilewski K. The Supportive Care Clinic: A Novel Model of Embedded Pediatric Palliative Oncology Care. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 64:287-297.e1. [PMID: 35618251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Pediatric palliative care (PPC) improves quality of life and end-of-life outcomes for children with cancer, but often occurs late in the disease course. The Supportive Care Clinic (SCC) was launched in 2017 to expand outpatient PPC access. OBJECTIVES To describe the inaugural four years (2017-2021) of an academic, consultative, embedded SCC within pediatric oncology. METHODS Descriptive statistics (demographic, disease, treatment, visit, and end-of-life) and change over time were calculated. RESULTS During the first four years, 248 patients (51.6% male; 58.1% White; 35.5% Black; 13.7% Hispanic/Latino) were seen in SCC, totaling 1,143 clinic visits (median 4, IQR 2,6), including 248 consultations and 895 follow-up visits. Clinic visits grew nearly 300% from year one to four. Primary diagnoses were central nervous system tumor (41.9%), solid tumor (37.5%), and leukemia/lymphoma (17.3%). The first point of PPC contact became SCC (70.6%) for most referred patients. Among the 136 deceased patients (54.8%), 77.9% had a do-not-resuscitate or Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment in place, and 72.8% received hospice care. When known (n = 112), 89.3% died in their preferred location. The time from SCC consultation to death increased from 74 to 226 days over the four years (P < 0.0001). The proportion of SCC consultations that occurred greater than 90 days from death increased from 39.1% in year one to 85.0% in year four. CONCLUSION Embedded SCC clinics can be successful, achieve steady growth, improve referrals and timing of PPC, and enhance end-of-life care for children with cancer. Large pediatric cancer centers should include SCC outpatient services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine E Brock
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (K.E.B., K.W.), Emory University. Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care (K.E.B.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Nicholas P DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anna Roche
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Annika Lee
- Emory University School of Medicine (A.L.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Wasilewski
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (K.E.B., N.P.D., A.R., K.W.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (K.E.B., K.W.), Emory University. Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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7
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Uber A, Ebelhar JS, Lanzel AF, Roche A, Vidal-Anaya V, Brock KE. Palliative Care in Pediatric Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Curr Oncol Rep 2022; 24:161-174. [DOI: 10.1007/s11912-021-01174-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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8
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Labudde EJ, DeGroote NP, Ebelhar J, Massie AM, Allen KE, Castellino SM, Wasilewski-Masker K, Brock KE. Evaluating Palliative Opportunities Across the Age Spectrum in Children and Adolescent Patients with Cancer. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2021; 11:402-409. [PMID: 34582272 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2021.0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Adolescent patients with cancer experience unique stressors due to their developmental stage, with increased physical, emotional, and social distress. Palliative care (PC) serves an important role in pediatric cancer care. We examined "palliative opportunities," or events during a patient's cancer course where subspecialty PC would be warranted and compared opportunities between adolescents and younger patients. Methods: Patients from a single center, 0-18 years of age at cancer diagnosis, who died from January 1, 2012, to November 30, 2017, were included. In this secondary analysis, patients were divided into cohorts based on age at diagnosis: 0-12 and 13-18 years. Demographic, disease, and treatment data were collected. Descriptive statistics and modeling were performed. Number, type, and timing of palliative opportunities and PC consultation timing and reason were evaluated across cohorts. Results: Of the 296 patients included for analysis, 27.7% were 13-18 years (82/296) at diagnosis. Frequency of palliative opportunities did not differ by age (median 7.0 [interquartile range 4.0 and 10.0] in both cohorts). PC consultation occurred in 36.5% (108/296), with neither rate nor timing differing by age group. PC consultations in adolescents were more often for symptom management (p = 0.0001). Adolescent patients were less likely to have a do-not-resuscitate order placed before death (61.0%, 50/82) compared to younger patients (73.8%, 158/214, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Adolescent patients with cancer did not experience more palliative opportunities than younger patients in this cohort, although they often have challenging psychological, family, and social stressors that were not identified. Incorporating additional palliative opportunities could enhance identification of stress and symptoms in adolescents with cancer such that PC could be timed to meet their needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Labudde
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicholas P DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jonathan Ebelhar
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - A McCauley Massie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristen E Allen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sharon M Castellino
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Wasilewski-Masker
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katharine E Brock
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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9
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DeGroote NP, Allen KE, Falk EE, Velozzi-Averhoff C, Wasilewski-Masker K, Johnson K, Brock KE. Relationship of race and ethnicity on access, timing, and disparities in pediatric palliative care for children with cancer. Support Care Cancer 2021; 30:923-930. [PMID: 34409499 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06500-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pediatric palliative care (PPC) improves quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer. Little is known about disparities between different racial and ethnic groups in the frequency and timing of PPC referrals. We evaluated the impact of race and ethnicity on the frequency and timing of PPC referral after initiation of an embedded PPO clinic where no formal consultation triggers exist. METHODS Patients with cancer between 0 and 25 years at diagnosis who experienced a high-risk event between July 2015 and June 2018 were eligible. Demographic, disease, and PPC information were obtained. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess likelihood of receiving PPC services by race/ethnicity. RESULTS Of 426 patients who experienced a high-risk event, 48% were non-Hispanic White, 31% were non-Hispanic Black, 15% were Hispanic of any race, and 4% were non-Hispanic Asian. No significant differences were found between race/ethnicity and age at diagnosis/death, sex, and diagnosis. PPC consultation (p = 0.03) differed by race. Non-Hispanic Black patients were 1.7 times more likely than non-Hispanic White patients to receive PPC after adjustment (p = 0.01). White patients spent less days in the hospital in the last 90 days of life (3.0 days) compared with Black (8.0), Asian (12.5), or Hispanic patients (14.0, p = 0.009) CONCLUSION: Disparities exist in patients receiving pediatric oncology and PPC services. Cultural tendencies as well as unconscious and cultural biases may affect PPC referral by race and ethnicity. Better understanding of cultural tendencies and biases may improve end-of-life outcomes for children and young adults with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristen E Allen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Erin E Falk
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Karen Wasilewski-Masker
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, 2015 Uppergate Drive, HSRB W-352, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Khaliah Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, 2015 Uppergate Drive, HSRB W-352, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Katharine E Brock
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, 2015 Uppergate Drive, HSRB W-352, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Labudde EJ, DeGroote NP, Smith S, Ebelhar J, Allen KE, Castellino SM, Wasilewski‐Masker K, Brock KE. Evaluating palliative opportunities in pediatric patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Cancer Med 2021; 10:2714-2722. [PMID: 33754498 PMCID: PMC8026931 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite favorable prognoses, pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies experience significant challenges that may lead to diminished quality of life or family stress. They are less likely to receive subspecialty palliative care (PC) consultation and often undergo intensive end-of-life (EOL) care. We examined "palliative opportunities," or events when the integration of PC would have the greatest impact, present during a patient's hematologic malignancy course and relevant associations. METHODS A single-center retrospective review was conducted on patients aged 0-18 years with a hematologic malignancy who died between 1/1/12 and 11/30/17. Demographic, disease, and treatment data were collected. A priori, nine palliative opportunity categories were defined. Descriptive statistics were performed. Palliative opportunities were evaluated over temporal quartiles from diagnosis to death. Timing and rationale of pediatric PC consultation were evaluated. RESULTS Patients (n = 92) had a median of 5.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 6.0) palliative opportunities, incurring 522 total opportunities, increasing toward the EOL. Number and type of opportunities did not differ by demographics. PC consultation was most common in patients with lymphoid leukemia (50.9%, 28/55) and myeloid leukemia (48.5%, 16/33) versus lymphoma (0%, 0/4, p = 0.14). Forty-four of ninety-two patients (47.8%) received PC consultation a median of 1.8 months (IQR 4.1) prior to death. Receipt of PC was associated with transplant status (p = 0.0018) and a higher number of prior palliative opportunities (p = 0.0005); 70.3% (367/522) of palliative opportunities occurred without PC. CONCLUSION Patients with hematologic malignancies experience many opportunities warranting PC support. Identifying opportunities for ideal timing of PC involvement may benefit patients with hematologic cancers and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas P. DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Susie Smith
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Jonathan Ebelhar
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
- Department of PediatricsDivision of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Kristen E. Allen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Sharon M. Castellino
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
- Department of PediatricsDivision of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Karen Wasilewski‐Masker
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
- Department of PediatricsDivision of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Katharine E. Brock
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGAUSA
- Department of PediatricsDivision of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
- Department of PediatricsDivision of Pediatric Palliative CareEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
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11
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Massie AM, Ebelhar J, Allen KE, DeGroote NP, Wasilewski-Masker K, Brock KE. Defining and timing of palliative opportunities in children with central nervous system tumors. Neurooncol Pract 2021; 8:451-459. [PMID: 34277023 DOI: 10.1093/nop/npab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Children with brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors experience substantial challenges to their quality of life during their disease course. These challenges are opportunities for increased subspecialty palliative care (PC) involvement. Palliative opportunities have been defined in the pediatric oncology population, but the frequency, timing, and factors associated with palliative opportunities in pediatric patients with CNS tumors are unknown. Methods A single-institution retrospective review was performed on children ages 0-18 diagnosed with a CNS tumor who died between January 1, 2012 and November 30, 2017. Nine palliative opportunities were defined prior to data collection (progression, relapse, admission for severe symptoms, intensive care admission, bone marrow transplant, phase 1 trial, hospice, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order). Demographic, disease, treatment, palliative opportunity, and end-of-life data were collected. Opportunities were evaluated over quartiles from diagnosis to death. Results Amongst 101 patients with a median age at death of eight years (interquartile range [IQR] = 8.0, range 0-22), there was a median of seven (IQR = 6) palliative opportunities per patient, which increased closer to death. PC consultation occurred in 34 (33.7%) patients, at a median of 2.2 months before death, and was associated with having a DNR order (P = .0028). Hospice was involved for 72 (71.3%) patients. Conclusion Children with CNS tumors suffered repeated events warranting PC yet received PC support only one-third of the time. Mapping palliative opportunities over the cancer course promotes earlier timing of PC consultation which can decrease suffering and resuscitation attempts at the end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan Ebelhar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kristen E Allen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicholas P DeGroote
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Wasilewski-Masker
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katharine E Brock
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Association of a pediatric palliative oncology clinic on palliative care access, timing and location of care for children with cancer. Support Care Cancer 2020; 29:1849-1857. [PMID: 32783177 PMCID: PMC7419028 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05671-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Background Most pediatric palliative care (PPC) services are inpatient consultation services and do not reach patients and families in the outpatient and home settings, where a vast majority of oncology care occurs. We explored whether an embedded pediatric palliative oncology (PPO) clinic is associated with receipt and timing of PPC and hospital days in the last 90 days of life. Methods Oncology patients (ages 0–25) with a high-risk event (death, relapse/progression, and/or phase I/II clinical trial enrollment) between 07/01/2015 and 06/30/2018 were included. PPO clinic started July 2017. Two cohorts were defined: pre-PPO (high-risk event(s) occurring 07/01/2015–06/30/2017) and post-PPO (high-risk event(s) occurring 07/01/2017–06/30/2018). Descriptive statistics were performed; demographic, disease course, and outcomes variables across cohorts were compared. Results A total of 426 patients were included (pre-PPO n = 235; post-PPO n = 191). Forty-seven patients with events in both pre- and post-PPO cohorts were included in the post-PPO cohort. Mean age at diagnosis was 8 years. Diagnoses were evenly distributed among solid tumors, brain tumors, and leukemia/lymphoma. Post-PPO cohort patients received PPC more often (45.6% vs. 21.3%, p < 0.0001), for a longer time before death than the pre-PPO cohort (median 88 vs. 32 days, p = 0.027), and spent fewer days hospitalized in the last 90 days of life (median 3 vs. 8 days, p = 0.0084). Conclusion A limited-day, embedded PPO clinic was associated with receipt of PPC and spending more time at home in patients with cancer who had high-risk events. Continued improvements to these outcomes would be expected with additional oncology provider education and PPO personnel.
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