Seven out of ten patients with advanced cancer receive a palliative care consultation at ESMO Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care, according to survey results reported today at the ESMO 2016 Congress in Copenhagen.1
The news comes as the Designated Centre distinction is awarded to 14 centres this year, bringing the total to 200 from 42 countries. Nine Palliative Care Fellowships will also be bestowed, providing an intensive period of observation or research at an ESMO Designated Centre.
The ESMO Designated Centres programme is the premier initiative worldwide championing integrated programmes in oncology and palliative care, aiming to ease the physical and mental suffering of cancer patients during anticancer treatment and also at the end of life. Since 2003 the distinction has recognised cancer centres that achieve a high standard of integration of medical oncology and palliative care. The designation is valid for three years and in 2016 some 74 centres are due to re-accredit, of which seven joined the programme in 2003.
The survey presented today evaluated the characteristics and level of integration of palliative care services at ESMO Designated Centres by asking their leaders a series of 78 questions. Responses were received from 152 out of 184 centres polled (83%), of which 105 (76%) were in Europe. More than 80% said the programme had increased their status as cancer centres.
Programmes reported that 70% of patients with advanced cancer had a palliative care consultation. This occurred in a median of 90 days before death for outpatients and 10 days before death for inpatients.
ESMO Designated Centres had a high level of infrastructure to deliver palliative care and provided these services to a large proportion of patients with advanced cancer. More than one-third of centres (36%) were tertiary care cancer centres and 22% were tertiary care general hospitals. The median number of beds was 550.
Nearly all of the centres (90%) had inpatient consultation teams, while 88% had outpatient palliative care clinics, 71% had dedicated acute care beds, and 50% offered community based palliative care. Interdisciplinary teams existed in 95% of centres and 65% had dually certified palliative oncologists who were both a cancer specialist and a palliative care specialist.
All ESMO Designated Centres had conducted palliative care research in the past three years, and pain was the most common topic. Concerning education, 39% offered palliative care fellowship programmes, 32% had mandatory palliative care rotations for medical oncology fellows, 52% had a didactic palliative care curriculum for oncology fellows, and 73% offered continuing medical education for oncologists.
These results show that the growing community of ESMO Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care have a high level of integration.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
Reference
- Abstract 1301PD - 'Characteristics and level of integration of ESMO Designated Centres of integrated oncology and palliative care' will be presented during the Poster Discusion session 'Supportive and palliative care': on Saturday, 8 October, 09:30 - 10:30 (CEST).
The Designated Centre Awards and Palliative Care Fellowships will be presented during the 'ESMO Integrated Oncology & Palliative Care Community Session' on Sunday, 9 October, 16:30 - 18:30 (CEST).
About the European Society for Medical Oncology
ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. Comprising more than 13,000 oncology professionals from over 130 countries, we are the society of reference for oncology education and information. We are committed to supporting our members to develop and advance in a fast-evolving professional environment.
Founded in 1975, ESMO has European roots and a global reach: we welcome oncology professionals from around the world. We are a home for all oncology stakeholders, connecting professionals with diverse expertise and experience. Our educational and information resources support an integrated, multi-professional approach to cancer treatment. We seek to erase boundaries in cancer care as we pursue our mission across oncology, worldwide.
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