Palliative care consultation, quality-of-life measurements, and bereavement for end-of-life care in patients with lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition).
OBJECTIVE
To develop clinical practice guidelines for application of palliative care consultation, quality-of-life measurements, and appropriate bereavement activities for patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
To review the pertinent medical literature on palliative care consultation, quality-of-life measurements, and bereavement for patients with lung cancer, developing multidisciplinary discussions with authorities in these areas, and evolving written guidelines for end-of-life care of these patients.


RESULTS
Palliative care consultation has developed into a new specialty with credentialing of experts in this field based on extensive experience with patients in end-of-life circumstances including those with lung cancer. Bereavement studies of the physical and emotional morbidity of family members and caregivers before, during, and after the death of a cancer patient have supported truthful communication, consideration of psychological problems, effective palliative care, understanding of the patient's spiritual and cultural background, and sufficient forewarning of impending death.


CONCLUSIONS
Multidisciplinary investigations and experiences, with emphasis on consultation and delivery of palliative care, timely use of quality-of-life measurements for morbidities of treatment modalities and prognosis, and an understanding of the multifaceted complexities of the bereavement process, have clarified additional responsibilities of the attending physician.
Griffin
John P
JP
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 956 Court Ave, Room H314, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. jpgriffin@utmem.edu
Koch
Kathryn A
KA
Nelson
Judith E
JE
Cooley
Mary E
ME
D001601:Bereavement; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013727:Terminal Care