title: Early Integration of Palliative Care in Oncology Practice: Results of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early integration of palliative care in oncology practice ("simultaneous care", SC) has been shown to provide better care resulting in improved quality-of-life and also survival. We evaluated the opinions of Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) members.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 37-item questionnaire was delivered to 1119 AIOM members. Main areas covered were: social, ethical, relational aspects of disease and communication, training, research, organizational and management models in SC. Three open questions explored the definition of Quality of Life, Medical Oncologist and Palliative Care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and forty-nine (40.1%) medical oncologists returned the questionnaires. Forty-nine percent stated they address non-curability when giving a diagnosis of metastatic tumor, and 43% give the information only to patients who clearly ask for it. Fifty-five percent say the main formative activity in palliative medicine came from attending meetings and 90% agree that specific palliative care training should be part of the core curriculum in oncology. Twenty-two percent stated they consulted guidelines for symptom management, 45% relied upon personal experience and 26% make a referral to a palliative care specialist. Seventy-four percent were in favor of more research in palliative medicine. An integration between Units of Oncology and Palliative Care Services early in the course of advanced disease was advocated by 86%. Diverse and multifaceted definitions were given for the concepts of Quality of Life, Palliative Care and Medical Oncologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SC is felt as an important task, as well as training of medical oncologists in symptom management and research in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Oncology, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova.
authors.forename: Vittorina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zagonel
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torta
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital, Parma.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Franciosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Oncology, Medical Oncology Unit 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunello
authors.affiliation: "LA Seragnoli" Department of Hematology and Oncology Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Oncology, Milano.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical Oncology Unit, Piacenza Hospital, Piacenza.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavanna
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Fatebenefratelli - Isola Tiberina Hospital, Roma.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milano.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S. Maria Annunziata Hospital - AUSL 10, Bagno a Ripoli (FI).
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fioretto
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, SS. Trinità Hospital, Sora (FR).
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gamucci
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit INI Grottaferrata, Roma.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lanzetta
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar (VR).
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magarotto
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori IRCCS, Meldola (FC).
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maltoni
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, SS. Giovanni e Paolo Hospital, Venezia.
authors.forename: Cataldo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastromauro
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melotti
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital, Brescia.
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meriggi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Roma.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavese
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, S.Anna Hospital, Ferrara.
authors.forename: Erico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, S. Maria Misericordia Hospital, Udine.
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trentin
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, S. Maria Misericordia Hospital, Udine.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ermacora
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varetto
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, San Bonifacio Hospital, San Bonifacio (VR).
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar (VR).
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascinu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS - Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinto
keywords: advanced cancer; early palliative care; medical oncology; research.; simultaneous care