title: Implications of a needs assessment intervention for people with progressive cancer: impact on clinical assessment, response and service utilisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of the systematic use of the Palliative Care Needs Assessment Guidelines and Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease-Cancer (NAT: PD-C) on clinical assessment, response and service utilisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three major oncology treatment centres in NSW, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2007 and December 2009, 219 people with advanced cancer were recruited to complete bi-monthly telephone interviews. The intervention, introduced after at least two baseline interviews, involved training health professionals to complete the NAT: PD-C with patients approximately monthly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates of service use and referrals were compared pre- and post-introduction of the NAT: PD-C. Rates of completion of the tool; its impact on consultation length; and the types of needs and follow-up care to address these were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NAT: PD-C had a high rate of completion; identified needs consistent with those self-reported by patients in interviews; and did not alter consultation length. No changes in the number of health professionals seen by patients were found pre- and post-intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NAT: PD-C is an efficient and acceptable strategy for supporting needs-based cancer care that can potentially be incorporated into standard routine care without increasing the burden on care providers.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, The Cancer Council NSW, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. amy.waller@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girgis
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecathelinais
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seldon
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bonaventura
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Currow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*