1
|
Fernando RA. Improving Supportive and Palliative Care Integration in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2024; 13:271-280. [PMID: 37878271 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0096] [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] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Timely supportive and palliative care (SPC) integration in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer management is recommended in curative and palliative settings. However, multiple barriers exist to implementing this goal. Liverpool Cancer Therapy Center (LCTC) serviced a growing AYA (15-39 years) population without AYA-dedicated services and the vast majority receiving no SPC engagement. Concerned this was placing AYA patients' wellbeing at risk, we determined a cultural change was required and that the newly established AYA Supportive and Palliative Care (AYASPC) Service could facilitate this. Methods: The AYASPC Service conducted a 6-month quality improvement project aiming to increase its referrals from a baseline average of one per month to four per month, to increase confidence in making SPC referrals and to enhance appreciation for specialized AYA care. Interventions included formalizing an AYASPC referral pathway with broad indications, and educating clinicians on holistic AYA care, the AYASPC Service's model of care (MoC) and AYASPC referral benefits. Results: During the project, 27 AYASPC referrals were made. Referrals consistently exceeded the Service's baseline, and from 3 months onward exceeded the project target. Additionally, referrals were made earlier (29.6% at diagnosis), for a variety of cancer diagnoses with varied prognoses, and for indications beyond traditional issues of complex symptoms and end-of-life care. Clinicians also expressed greater confidence in supporting AYAs and making SPC referrals. Conclusion: In a brief timeframe, the AYASPC Service's innovative and adaptable MoC and project interventions sustainably improved AYASPC access and affected a positive cultural shift around AYA care and advocacy.
Collapse
|
2
|
Johnston EE, Rosenberg AR. Palliative Care in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer. J Clin Oncol 2024; 42:755-763. [PMID: 37862672 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.00709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Palliative care (PC) aims to improve quality of life (QOL) for patients with serious illness and their families by recognizing and alleviating the physical, emotional, social, existential, and spiritual suffering of patients and their communities. Because adolescents and young adults (AYAs, age 15-39 years) with cancer commonly report distress across all these domains and because that distress translates to their QOL during and after their cancers, PC is particularly relevant for this population. Here, we review the evidence for PC among AYAs with cancer, including its rationale, gaps, opportunities, and implications for care delivery. For example, nearly 90% of AYAs with cancer report distressing symptoms during their treatment, those who survive report ongoing unmet psychosocial and physical health needs, and those who die from their cancers are highly likely to receive medically intense care that is discordant with their goals and values. AYA communication and decision making can be challenging because of ethical and developmental considerations regarding the patient's autonomy and competing priorities of patients and caregivers. PC interventions (including primary PC delivered by oncologists, routine PC subspecialty care, symptom tracking, advance care planning, and psychosocial programs promoting AYA resilience) are all associated with improved patient-centered outcomes. However, PC is inconsistently integrated into AYA oncology care, and access to PC programs is not equitable; marginalized groups continue to experience poorer outcomes. Ongoing and future research and clinical initiatives must continue to bridge these gaps. Improving the QOL of AYAs with cancer is a shared goal of the larger clinical oncology community, and including PC in AYA cancer care delivery can help attain that goal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Johnston
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Avery J, Campbell KL, Mosher P, Al-Awamer A, Goddard K, Edwards A, Burnett L, Hannon B, Gupta A, Howard AF. Advanced Cancer in Young Adults (YAs): Living in a Liminal Space. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:72-85. [PMID: 37844970 PMCID: PMC10714712 DOI: 10.1177/10497323231204182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Young adults (YAs), defined as individuals between the ages of 18 and 39 years, experience unique challenges when diagnosed with advanced cancer. Using the social constructivist grounded theory approach, we aimed to develop a theoretical understanding of how YAs live day to day with their diagnosis. A sample of 25 YAs (aged 22-39 years) with advanced cancer from across Canada participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings illustrate that the YAs described day-to-day life as an oscillating experience swinging between two opposing disease outcomes: (1) hoping for a cure and (2) facing the possibility of premature death. Oscillating between these potential outcomes was characterized as living in a liminal space wherein participants were unsure how to live from one day to the next. The participants oscillated at various rates, with different factors influencing the rate of oscillation, including inconsistent and poor messaging from their oncologists or treatment team, progression or regression of their cancer, and changes in their physical functioning and mental health. These findings provide a theoretical framework for designing interventions to help YAs adapt to their circumstance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Avery
- Anew Research Collaborative: Reshaping Young Adult Cancer Care, Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kristin L. Campbell
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pamela Mosher
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmed Al-Awamer
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Breffni Hannon
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Abha Gupta
- Division of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A. Fuchsia Howard
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Drake EK, Weeks LE, van Manen M, Shin HD, Wong H, Taylor D, McKibbon S, Curran J. The Delivery of Palliative and End-of-Life Care to Adolescents and Young Adults Living with Cancer: A Scoping Review. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2023; 12:611-624. [PMID: 37155194 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0013] [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] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the existing evidence on the delivery of palliative and end-of-life care to adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with cancer, by identifying knowledge gaps and discussing the key characteristics and types of evidence in this field. This study employed a JBI scoping review design. CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase (Elsevier), MEDLINE (Ovid), APA PsycINFO (EBSCO), and Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index; Clarivate Analytics) databases were searched along with grey literature sources to February 2022 for related studies on the delivery of palliative and end-of-life care to AYAs. No search restrictions were applied. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles for eligibility, and they extracted data from studies that met the inclusion criteria. A total of 29,394 records were identified through our search strategy and 51 studies met the inclusion criteria of the study. The studies were published between 2004 and 2022, with the majority from North America (65%). The included studies involved patient, healthcare provider, caregiver, and public stakeholders. Their primary foci were often on end-of-life outcomes (41%) and/or advance care planning/end-of-life priorities and decision-making (35%). This review identified several evidence gaps within the field, including a focus primarily on patients who have died. Findings highlight the need for more collaborative research with AYAs on their experiences with palliative and end-of-life care, as well as their involvement as patient partners in research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Drake
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- IWK Health, Halifax, Canada
- School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs with Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Halifax, Canada
| | - Lori E Weeks
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs with Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Halifax, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, Canada
| | - Michael van Manen
- John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Hwayeon Danielle Shin
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Centre for Complex Care Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Helen Wong
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Dani Taylor
- Patient Partner, St. John's, Canada
- Young Adult Cancer Canada, St. John's, Canada
| | - Shelley McKibbon
- Aligning Health Needs with Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Halifax, Canada
- W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Janet Curran
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- IWK Health, Halifax, Canada
- School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs with Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Halifax, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Peñaranda Ospina LM, Iglesias Meza FS, Alvarado Garcia AM. ¿Podemos ver el mundo igual? interdisciplinariedad en el cuidado paliativo. REVISTA CUIDARTE 2022. [DOI: 10.15649/cuidarte.2568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Los cuidados paliativos según la Organización Mundial (OMS) de la salud son aquellos cuidados que buscan mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas y de sus familias cuando afrontan problemas físicos, psicológicos, sociales o espirituales inherentes a una enfermedad potencialmente mortal; en el mundo se estima que alrededor de 40 millones de personas requieren cuidados paliativos, pero solo el 14% la reciben, igualmente la OMS indica que el 78% de las personas que necesitan cuidados paliativos viven en países en vía de desarrollo, lo que devela una gran de necesidad de atención paliativa no solo a la persona enferma si también a su familia. Los requerimientos en la atención paliativa a nivel mundial, van de la mano con el aumento del envejecimiento que confluye de manera progresiva y casi simultánea con las manifestaciones de desgaste orgánico y los procesos de salud y enfermedad enmarcados en el entorno y en la biografía del individuo, sin embargo no se debe desconocer que las personas en cualquier edad y en cualquier etapa de enfermedad grave son candidatos para recibir cuidados paliativos pudiendo requerir diferentes enfoques de atención según las necesidades propias de cada individuo, por otra parte el conocimiento basado en la genética, ha permitido la hipótesis de la vida, pero la realidad del entorno del individuo está influida desde antes del nacimiento, la historia nutricional, uso de tabaco, exposición a tóxicos ambientales y el ciclo vital se han definido como causantes de alteraciones epigenéticas, que pueden contribuir en las condiciones de enfermedad plausibles de cuidados paliativos en sus etapas avanzadas.
Collapse
|
6
|
Alcalde Castro MJ, Pope A, Zhang Y, Al-Awamer A, Banerjee S, Lau J, Mak E, O'Connor B, Saltman A, Wentlandt K, Zimmermann C, Hannon B. Palliative medicine outpatient clinic 'no-shows': retrospective review. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2021:bmjspcare-2021-003414. [PMID: 34732473 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients who do not attend outpatient palliative care clinic appointments ('no-shows') may have unmet needs and can impact wait times. We aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes associated with no-shows. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed new no-show referrals to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Oncology Palliative Care Clinic (OPCC) in Toronto, Canada, between January 2017 and December 2018, compared with a random selection of patients who attended their first appointment, in a 1:2 ratio. We collected patient information, symptoms, performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and outcomes. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant factors. RESULTS Compared with those who attended (n=214), no-shows (n=103), on multivariable analysis, were at higher odds than those who attended of being younger (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.00, p=0.019), living outside Toronto (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.54 to 4.62, p<0.001) and having ECOG ≥2 (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.41 to 6.29, p=0.004). No-shows had a shorter median survival compared with those who attended their first appointment (2.3 vs 8.7 months, p<0.001). CONCLUSION Compared with patients who attended, no-shows lived further from the OPCC, were younger, and had a poorer ECOG. Strategies such as virtual visits should be explored to reduce no-shows and enable attendance at OPCCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley Pope
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuhua Zhang
- Biostatistics, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmed Al-Awamer
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Subrata Banerjee
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jenny Lau
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ernie Mak
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brenda O'Connor
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexandra Saltman
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Medicine, Rheumatology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Camilla Zimmermann
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Breffni Hannon
- Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Supporting the Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults: Integrated Palliative Care and Psychiatry Clinic for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040770. [PMID: 33673202 PMCID: PMC7918814 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer experience a high level of distress and have unique unmet palliative and supportive care needs. There is limited knowledge about the symptom burden, quality of life, and type of care that AYA patients receive. In 2017, a dedicated AYA-specialized palliative care clinic was established at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Canada, with a collaborative approach between palliative care and psychiatry. This study aims to describe the demographics and symptoms burden of AYA cancer patients who attended the integrated palliative care and psychiatry clinic, measure the impact of the clinic on AYAs’ symptom control, and examine their end-of-life outcomes. Abstract Clinical guidelines aimed at cancer care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) encourage early integration of palliative care, yet there are scarce data to support these recommendations. We conducted a retrospective chart review of AYA patients, aged 15 to 39 years, who were referred to the Integrated AYA Palliative Care and Psychiatry Clinic (IAPCPC) at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between May 2017 and November 2019 (n = 69). Demographic data, symptom prevalence, change in symptom scores between baseline consultation and first follow-up, and intensity of end-of-life care were collected from the patients’ medical charts, analyzed, and reported. Of the 69 patients, 59% were female, and sarcoma was the most common cancer. A majority of patients had at least one symptom scored as moderate to severe; tiredness, pain, and sleep problems were the highest scored symptoms. More than one-third used medical cannabis to manage their symptoms. Symptom scores improved in 61% after the first clinic visit. Out of the 69 patients, 50 (72.5%) had died by October 2020, with a median time between the initial clinic referral and death of 5 months (range 1–32). Three patients (6%) received chemotherapy, and eight (16%) were admitted to an intensive care unit during the last month of life. In conclusion, AYAs with advanced cancer have a high burden of palliative and psychosocial symptoms. Creating a specialized AYA palliative care clinic integrated with psychiatry showed promising results in improving symptom scores and end-of-life planning.
Collapse
|