Timely identification of patients in need of palliative care using the Double Surprise Question: A prospective study on outpatients with cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Surprise Question ("Would I be surprised if this patient were to die within the next 12 months?") is widely used to identify palliative patients, though with low predictive value. To improve timely identification of palliative care needs, we propose an additional Surprise Question ("Would I be surprised if this patient is still alive after 12 months?") if the original Surprise Question is answered with "no." The combination of the two questions is called the Double Surprise Question.

Aim

To examine the prognostic accuracy of the Double Surprise Question in outpatients with cancer.

Design

A prospective study.

Participants

Twelve medical oncologists completed the Double Surprise Question for 379 patients.

Results

SUBMITTER: Ermers DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7975860 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature