title: Seventeen years of progress for supportive care services: A resurvey of National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We replicated a 1994 study that surveyed the state of supportive care services due to changes in the field and the increased need for such services. We provide an updated assessment, comparing the changes that have occurred and describing the current status of supportive care services in comprehensive cancer settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Coluzzi and colleague's 60-question survey from their 1995 Journal of Clinical Oncology article to frame the 98-question survey employed in the current study. Medical and palliative care directors for the 2011 National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive cancer centers were surveyed regarding their supportive care services and their subjective review of the overall effectiveness of the services provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We achieved a 76% response rate (n = 31). The data revealed increases in the number of cancer beds in the hospitals, the degree of integration of supportive care services, the availability of complementary services, and the number of pain and palliative care services offered. There was also an overall shift toward centers becoming more patient centered, as 65% reported now having a patient and family advisory council. Our findings revealed a growing trend to offer distress screening for both outpatients and inpatients. Medical and palliative care directors' evaluations of the supportive care services they offered also significantly improved. However, the results revealed an ongoing gap in services for end-of-life care and timely referrals for hospice services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, both the quantity and quality of supportive care services in the surveyed NCI-designated cancer centers has improved.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Support Community Santa Monica,Santa Monica,California.
authors.forename: Sheila L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center,Duarte,California.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center,Duarte,California.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center,Duarte,California.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Loscalzo
mesh_terms: D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054547:National Cancer Institute (U.S.); D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
keywords: Distress screening; End-of-life care; Oncology; Palliative care; Supportive care