Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Previous studies in the US and Canada show the positive impact of early palliative care programs for advanced cancer patients on quality of life (QoL) and even survival time. There has been a lack of similar research in Europe. In order to generalize the findings from the US and Canada research on a larger scale, similar studies are needed in different countries with different care settings, such as Belgium. Method: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is being conducted as follows: 186 patients with advanced cancer were recruited from the departments of Medical Oncology, Digestive Oncology and Thoracic Oncology of the Ghent University Hospital. Patients are randomized to either systematic early integration of palliative care in standard oncology care or standard oncology care alone. Patients and informal caregivers are asked to fill out questionnaires on QoL, mood, illness understanding and satisfaction with care at baseline, 12 weeks and every six weeks thereafter. Other outcome measures are end-of-life care decisions and overall survival time. Results concerning baseline characteristics are due June 2016. Discussion: This is the first RCT in the Belgian health care setting to evaluate the effect of systematic early integration of palliative care for advanced cancer patients. The results will enable us to evaluate whether systematic early integration of palliative care has positive effects on QoL, mood and patient illness- Understanding and which components of the intervention contribute to these effects. Trial registration Clinical trials.gov Identifier: NCT01865396, registered 24th of May, 2013.

Biography

Email: gaelle.vanbutsele@uzgent.be