The Surprise Question and Identification of Palliative Care Needs among Hospitalized Patients with Advanced Hematologic or Solid Malignancies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is known about quality of life (QOL), depression, and end-of-life (EOL) outcomes among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.

Objective

To assess whether the surprise question identifies inpatients with advanced cancer likely to have unmet palliative care needs.

Design

Prospective cohort study and long-term follow-up.

Setting/subjects

From 2008 to 2010, we enrolled 150 inpatients at Duke University with stage III/IV solid tumors or lymphoma/acute leukemia and whose physician would not be surprised if they died in less than one year.

Measurements

We assessed QOL (FACT-G), mood (brief CES-D), and EOL outcomes.

Results

Mean FACT-G score was quite low (66.9; SD 11). Forty-five patients (30%) had a brief CES-D score of ≥4 indicat

SUBMITTER: Hudson KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6037191 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature