Perspectives on Palliative Care Among Patients With Pancreatic Cancer: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND

Palliative care (PC) is specialized health care that can improve quality of life for patients with cancer. However, PC tends to be underutilized or relegated to end-of-life care, limiting patients' ability to benefit from patient-centered, goal-concordant care. Patients with pancreatic cancer, who are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and with high symptom burdens, could benefit from PC. A chart review conducted in 2022 at a southern New Jersey academic medical center and cancer center found that among 77 patients diagnosed with cancer, only 26 were referred to palliative care services. Of those referred, just 6 received referrals for goal-concordant care discussions; the remaining 20 were referred primarily for cancer-related pain and symptom management or hospice care.

OBJECTIVES

This pilot observational quality improvement study sought to increase PC referrals for patients with pancreatic cancer, and to determine whether the PC received was goal concordant.

METHODS

Patients (N = 19) received referrals to PC and completed pre- and postvisit surveys.

FINDINGS: All patients who completed the postvisit survey (N = 9) expressed satisfaction with care received from the PC team. However, there were significant delays from diagnosis to the PC visit. Nurses support oncology care and tend to be aware of patients' needs; including nurses in discussions about PC may be a mechanism to increase referrals for this patient population.