Pallavi Kumar|David Casarett|Amy M. Corcoran|Krupali Desai|Qing Li|Jinbo Chen|Corey J. Langer|Jun J. Mao
Utilization of Supportive and Palliative Care Services among Oncology Outpatients at One Academic Cancer Center: Determinants of Use and Barriers to Access
University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania
abstract background cancer causes significant symptom burden diminished quality life despite expansion supportive palliative care services spcs little known rates utilization barriers access services among oncology outpatientswe performed crosssectional survey three outpatient medical oncology clinics patients diagnosis breast lung gastrointestinal gi cancer karnofsky score 60 included patients reported use spcs perceived barriers multivariable logistic regression used identify factors associated spcs useamong 313 participants 505 used spcs since cancer diagnosis common services used nutrition 265 psychiatricpsychological counseling 297 physical therapy 151 painpalliative care cancer rehabilitation consultations used 85 41 participants respectively multivariate analysis graduate education associated greater spcs use adjusted odds ratio aor 214 95 confidence interval ci 108426 compared high school less whereas lung cancer associated less spcs use aor 048 95 ci 024096 compared breast cancer biggest reported barriers using spcs lack awareness 224 lack physician referral 23approximately half patients accessed spcs since cancer diagnosis cite lack awareness physician nonreferral barriers research needed understand patients needs beliefs regarding spcs integrate spcs conventional treatments improve cancer care