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. 2015 Jun;2(2):62-69.
doi: 10.1093/nop/npu037. Epub 2015 Feb 16.

International patterns of palliative care in neuro-oncology: a survey of physician members of the Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology, the European Association of Neuro-Oncology, and the Society for Neuro-Oncology

Tobias Walbert  1 , Vinay K Puduvalli  1 , Martin J B Taphoorn  1 , Andrew R Taylor  1 , Rakesh Jalali  1
Affiliations

International patterns of palliative care in neuro-oncology: a survey of physician members of the Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology, the European Association of Neuro-Oncology, and the Society for Neuro-Oncology

Tobias Walbert et al. Neurooncol Pract. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Brain tumor patients have limited survival and suffer from high morbidity requiring specific symptom management. Specialized palliative care (PC) services have been developed to address these symptoms and provide end-of-life treatment. Global utilization patterns of PC in neuro-oncology are unknown.

Methods: In a collaborative effort between the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO), and the Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology (ASNO), a 22-question survey was distributed. Wilcoxon 2-sample and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess differences in responses.

Results: Five hundred fifty-two evaluable responses were received. The most significant differences were found between Asia-Oceania (AO) and Europe as well as AO and United States/Canada (USA-C). USA-C providers had more subspecialty training in neuro-oncology, but most providers had received no or minimal training in palliative care independent of region. Providers in all 3 regions reported referring patients at the onset of symptoms requiring palliation, but USA-C and European responders refer a larger total proportion of patients to PC (P < .001). Physicians in AO and Europe (both 46%) as well as 29% of USA-C providers did not feel comfortable dealing with end-of-life issues. Most USA-C patients (63%) are referred to hospice compared with only 8% and 19% in AO and Europe (P < .001), respectively.

Conclusion: This is the first report describing global differences of PC utilization in neuro-oncology. Significant differences in provider training, culture, access, and utilization were mainly found between AO and USA-C or AO and Europe. PC patterns are more similar in Europe and USA-C.

Keywords: end-of-life; glioblastoma; glioma; hospice; palliative care.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Survey results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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