In:
Journal of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol. 34, No. 26_suppl ( 2016-10-09), p. 201-201
Abstract:
201 Background: Radiation therapy (RT) provides an important role in the palliative care of patients with cancer. For patients with metastatic spinal cord compression not amenable to surgery, the value of timely palliative RT is well established; however, the value of the rapid application of RT for other chief complaints is less clear. The importance of palliative care service (PCS) involvement in patients treated with RT is becoming increasingly recognized and rapidly instituted RT could compromise this involvement. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of emergent RT in alleviating symptoms in patients with cancer and to assess the extent of PCS in the management of patients treated with emergent RT. Methods: Patients treated with emergent RT were retrospectively identified through automated search of our institution’s radiation oncology electronic health record (EHR). Emergent RT was defined as treatment with RT in 48 hours or less from the time of simulation and flagged as emergent in the EHR by the radiotherapy team. Patients without a diagnosis of cancer were excluded from the study. For patients meeting inclusion criteria, data was collected regarding the chief complaint, completion of treatment, length of RT, and the primary outcomes of involvement of PCS and symptom relief. Results: From January to July 2015, 22 patients with cancer were treated with emergent RT. Prior to RT, 21 of 22 patients received other medical and/or procedural interventions. Sixty-four percent of patients were treated with 5 or fewer fractions and all but 2 patients completed RT. Symptoms improved in 73% of patients. PCS were involved in the care of 36% of patients. Conclusions: Emergent palliative RT provided symptom relief in the majority of patients; however, this study identified a lack of PCS involvement in the care of patients treated emergently. Study of long-term patient outcomes is needed. Future work should focus on developing clinical workflows that will better integrate involvement of PCS in the treatment of patients with palliative RT administered both emergently and non-emergently.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0732-183X
,
1527-7755
DOI:
10.1200/jco.2016.34.26_suppl.201
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Publication Date:
2016
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2005181-5
