title: Palliative care of cancer patients: audit of current hospital procedures.
abstract: The palliative care of cancer patients admitted for tumour-related symptoms to three different departments (medical oncology, radiotherapy, internal medicine) of a general hospital was prospectively audited. The physicians directly responsible for the patients provided prospective data by reporting both the diagnostic and therapeutic interventions performed and the degree of control achieved for each symptom. A patient form for evaluation of the control achieved in the case of each symptom by means of linear analogue scales was also provided. The appropriateness of all procedures was evaluated by two external auditors. Over 6 months, 125 such admissions were recorded: 24 patients entered the study and the management of 56 symptoms, the most common of which were pain and dyspnoea, was reviewed. A total of 72 diagnostic procedures were performed, deemed necessary for only 50% of symptoms, optional for 15%, and performed as part of a logical sequence for 38%. A total of 130 therapeutic interventions were undertaken, deemed necessary for 55% of symptoms, optional for 15% and carried out as part of a logical sequence for 44%. Re-evaluations of symptoms and physician and patient evaluations of the degree of control achieved could not be assessed because of lack of information. The audit could not be repeated owing to the low accrual of patients and incompleteness of the data collection. Reasons for failure of the study and proposals for feasible methods of auditing the management of symptoms in cancer patients are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Oncologico, Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pampallona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carobbio
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neuenschwander
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavalli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013557:Switzerland; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures