Interdisciplinary Palliative Care for Patients With Lung Cancer

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management 2015-12, Vol.50 (6), p.758-767
• Main Authors: Ferrell, Betty, PhD, FAAN, Sun, Virginia, RN, PhD, Hurria, Arti, MD, Cristea, Mihaela, MD, Raz, Dan J., MD, Kim, Jae Y., MD, Reckamp, Karen, MD, Williams, Anna Cathy, RN, MSN, PHN, Borneman, Tami, RN, MSN, CNS, Uman, Gwen, PhD, Koczywas, Marianna, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advance Directives - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Ambulatory Care - methods; Ambulatory Care - statistics & numerical data; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Chronic Disease; distress; Female; Humans; interdisciplinary care; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - psychology; Lung Neoplasms - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Pain Medicine; palliative care; Palliative Care - methods; Palliative Care - statistics & numerical data; Patient Care Team; Postoperative Period; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Referral and Consultation - statistics & numerical data; Spirituality; Stress, Psychological - therapy; symptoms; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.07.005

Abstract Context Palliative care, including symptom management and attention to quality of life (QOL) concerns, should be addressed throughout the trajectory of a serious illness such as lung cancer. Objectives This study tested the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary palliative care intervention for patients with Stage I–IV non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Patients undergoing treatments for NSCLC were enrolled in a prospective, quasi-experimental study whereby the usual care group was accrued first followed by the intervention group. Patients in the intervention group were presented at interdisciplinary care meetings, and appropriate supportive care referrals were made. They also received four educational sessions. In both groups, QOL, symptoms, and psychological distress were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using surveys which included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung and the Lung Cancer Subscale, the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being, and the Distress Thermometer. Results A total of 491 patients were included in the primary analysis. Patients who received the intervention had significantly better scores for QOL (109.1 vs. 101.4; P