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Review
. 2022 Oct-Dec;44(4):567-573.
doi: 10.1016/j.htct.2022.06.007. Epub 2022 Jul 30.

Early integration of palliative care in hematology: an urgency for patients, a challenge for physicians

Laura Ferreira de Mesquita Ferraz  1 , Amanda Pifano Soares Ferreira  2 , Tânia Vannucci Vaz Guimarães  3 , Paula de Melo Campos  4
Affiliations
Review

Early integration of palliative care in hematology: an urgency for patients, a challenge for physicians

Laura Ferreira de Mesquita Ferraz et al. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther. 2022 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Early integration between palliative care and other medical specialties in the care of patients with serious illnesses is consolidating itself as good medical practice, based on scientific and ethical evidence. Despite this, palliative care is still not part of the routine care of patients with hematological diseases, even in specialized centers.

Objective and method: In this article, we review the benefits and the main barriers described in the literature for early integration of hematology and palliative care. We also point out the challenges encountered in clinical practice, such as end-of-life prognosis assessment in patients with hematological diseases and management of the most common symptoms in hematology. Finally, we review models of integration between palliative care and oncology centers in outpatient and inpatient settings.

Results and conclusion: Patients with hematological diseases can greatly benefit from early integration with palliative care, with improvement in symptom control, quality of life, reduction of emotional distress and the development of advanced care directives. It is necessary to make hematologists aware of the benefits of palliative care, provide adequate training for multidisciplinary teams and encourage specific studies of palliative care in patients with hematological diseases.

Keywords: Hematologic malignancies; Hematology; Palliative care; Quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A: Independent clinic model: the outpatient palliative care clinic has its own space and independently assesses patients, having full control over how and when patients are seen. Figure 1B: A co-located palliative care clinic allows patients to receive palliative care in the same location as their oncologists and at a time coordinated with other appointments. Figure 1C: In a Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic (embedded model), the palliative care team is one of several specialty teams programmed to serve the patient while receiving cancer care.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Corresponds to the visual diagram containing the main indications, challenges and benefits of PC in hematology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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