Effectiveness of a palliative care outpatient programme in improving cancer-related symptoms among ambulatory Brazilian patients
Abstract
The focuses of palliative care are to provide symptom relief and improve quality of life through an interdisciplinary approach. Previous studies conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of palliative care in reducing symptom distress among outpatients confirmed the importance of the palliative care approach. To our knowledge, there is no published information from Brazil regarding the impact of a palliative care outpatient programme in reducing symptom distress. Symptom scores from 232 patients were measured using Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scales in two consecutive consults. Changes in symptoms at follow-up visit were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank paired test. The symptom subtraction indices (SSI) (follow-up scores minus baseline scores) were calculated and then analysed with Spearman's correlation. Edmonton Symptom Assessment System median scores at follow-up visits were statistically significant reduced in all symptoms evaluated. All the SSI positively correlated with well-being-SSI. Other important SSI correlations were: fatigue-SSI and anxiety-SSI, and fatigue-SSI and dyspnoea-SSI. Our palliative care outpatient programme was able to provide a significant improvement in the symptoms evaluated. The well-being-SSI was positively correlated with all the SSI, verifying that the control of symptoms in palliative care is essential for the patient well-being. Adequate/inadequate control of specifically symptoms seems to indirectly improve/worsen other symptoms.
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Patients who are referred to palliative care are often anxious at the first appointment, which leads to a high absenteeism rate.
“Patients who are referred to PC are often anxious at the first appointment [12], which leads to a high absenteeism rate.”
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- Authors
- PAIVA, C. E., FARIA, C. B., NASCIMENTO, M. S. D. A., DOS SANTOS, R., SCAPULATEMPO, H. H. L. R. C., COSTA, E., & PAIVA, B. S. R.
- Affiliations
- Hospital de Câncer de Barretos (BR)
- Corresponding author
- PAIVA, C.E.
- Venue
- European Journal of Cancer Care
- Publisher
- Hindawi Limited
- Published
- 2011-11-02
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 124-130
- ISSN
- 0961-5423 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2139043894
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Cancer Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Keywords
- palliative care, cancer symptoms, symptom distress, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, well-being, fatigue, anxiety, dyspnea, ambulatory cancer patients, Brazil
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Ambulatory Care, Brazil, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Palliative Care, Severity of Illness Index, Program Evaluation, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Sickness Impact Profile, Young Adult
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