Senior onderzoeker Huisartsenzorg, Persoonsgerichte Integrale Zorg
Publicatie
Publicatie datum
Palliative care for patients with cancer: do patients receive the care they consider important?
Heins, M.J., Hofstede, J., Rijken, P.M., Korevaar, J.C., Donker, G.A., Francke, A.L. Palliative care for patients with cancer: do patients receive the care they consider important? In: Abstractbook Ca-PRI the Cancer and Primary care Research International network Conference: Edinburg, 19th of April 2017.
Background
Many patients with advanced cancer receive palliative care from a GP and homecare nurse. Care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respect for patients’ autonomy and information provision are important elements of palliative care, but it is not known whether patients receive the care they consider important
Methods
A total of 72 home-dwelling patients with advanced cancer were recruited via their personal GP. In addition, 87 of these GPs and 26 homecare nurses providing care to one of the 72 patients completed questionnaires. All participants rated the importance of care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respecting patients’ autonomy and information provision. Patients were also asked whether they actually received these aspects of palliative care. Questionnaires were based on the patient version of the CQ index palliative care, which was adapted for GPs and nurses.
Results
Patients gave higher importance ratings to respect for autonomy and information provision than to support for physical/psychosocial well-being, with the exception of care for pain. GPs and homecare nurses rated respect for autonomy and information provision as even more important than patients themselves. In general, patients received the aspects of care they considered important.
However, 56% to 65% of the patients who considered it important to receive care for fatigue, dyspnoea or depression/anxiety reported that they did not receive care for these symptoms. Besides, 22% of those who considered it important did not receive information on the expected course of their illness.
Conclusions
Most patients in this study received care for physical and psychosocial well-being, respect for their autonomy and information provision. Support for patients experiencing fatigue, dyspnoea and anxiety/depression by GPs and homecare nurses may need more attention. Besides, GPs should pay attention to patients’ need for information about the expected course of their illness, despite the fact that this may be difficult to predict.
Many patients with advanced cancer receive palliative care from a GP and homecare nurse. Care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respect for patients’ autonomy and information provision are important elements of palliative care, but it is not known whether patients receive the care they consider important
Methods
A total of 72 home-dwelling patients with advanced cancer were recruited via their personal GP. In addition, 87 of these GPs and 26 homecare nurses providing care to one of the 72 patients completed questionnaires. All participants rated the importance of care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respecting patients’ autonomy and information provision. Patients were also asked whether they actually received these aspects of palliative care. Questionnaires were based on the patient version of the CQ index palliative care, which was adapted for GPs and nurses.
Results
Patients gave higher importance ratings to respect for autonomy and information provision than to support for physical/psychosocial well-being, with the exception of care for pain. GPs and homecare nurses rated respect for autonomy and information provision as even more important than patients themselves. In general, patients received the aspects of care they considered important.
However, 56% to 65% of the patients who considered it important to receive care for fatigue, dyspnoea or depression/anxiety reported that they did not receive care for these symptoms. Besides, 22% of those who considered it important did not receive information on the expected course of their illness.
Conclusions
Most patients in this study received care for physical and psychosocial well-being, respect for their autonomy and information provision. Support for patients experiencing fatigue, dyspnoea and anxiety/depression by GPs and homecare nurses may need more attention. Besides, GPs should pay attention to patients’ need for information about the expected course of their illness, despite the fact that this may be difficult to predict.
Background
Many patients with advanced cancer receive palliative care from a GP and homecare nurse. Care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respect for patients’ autonomy and information provision are important elements of palliative care, but it is not known whether patients receive the care they consider important
Methods
A total of 72 home-dwelling patients with advanced cancer were recruited via their personal GP. In addition, 87 of these GPs and 26 homecare nurses providing care to one of the 72 patients completed questionnaires. All participants rated the importance of care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respecting patients’ autonomy and information provision. Patients were also asked whether they actually received these aspects of palliative care. Questionnaires were based on the patient version of the CQ index palliative care, which was adapted for GPs and nurses.
Results
Patients gave higher importance ratings to respect for autonomy and information provision than to support for physical/psychosocial well-being, with the exception of care for pain. GPs and homecare nurses rated respect for autonomy and information provision as even more important than patients themselves. In general, patients received the aspects of care they considered important.
However, 56% to 65% of the patients who considered it important to receive care for fatigue, dyspnoea or depression/anxiety reported that they did not receive care for these symptoms. Besides, 22% of those who considered it important did not receive information on the expected course of their illness.
Conclusions
Most patients in this study received care for physical and psychosocial well-being, respect for their autonomy and information provision. Support for patients experiencing fatigue, dyspnoea and anxiety/depression by GPs and homecare nurses may need more attention. Besides, GPs should pay attention to patients’ need for information about the expected course of their illness, despite the fact that this may be difficult to predict.
Many patients with advanced cancer receive palliative care from a GP and homecare nurse. Care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respect for patients’ autonomy and information provision are important elements of palliative care, but it is not known whether patients receive the care they consider important
Methods
A total of 72 home-dwelling patients with advanced cancer were recruited via their personal GP. In addition, 87 of these GPs and 26 homecare nurses providing care to one of the 72 patients completed questionnaires. All participants rated the importance of care for physical/psychosocial well-being, respecting patients’ autonomy and information provision. Patients were also asked whether they actually received these aspects of palliative care. Questionnaires were based on the patient version of the CQ index palliative care, which was adapted for GPs and nurses.
Results
Patients gave higher importance ratings to respect for autonomy and information provision than to support for physical/psychosocial well-being, with the exception of care for pain. GPs and homecare nurses rated respect for autonomy and information provision as even more important than patients themselves. In general, patients received the aspects of care they considered important.
However, 56% to 65% of the patients who considered it important to receive care for fatigue, dyspnoea or depression/anxiety reported that they did not receive care for these symptoms. Besides, 22% of those who considered it important did not receive information on the expected course of their illness.
Conclusions
Most patients in this study received care for physical and psychosocial well-being, respect for their autonomy and information provision. Support for patients experiencing fatigue, dyspnoea and anxiety/depression by GPs and homecare nurses may need more attention. Besides, GPs should pay attention to patients’ need for information about the expected course of their illness, despite the fact that this may be difficult to predict.
