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Hematologic Oncologists Value Hospice, But…
Cancer; ePub 2017 May 22; Odejide, Cronin, et al
In a survey, most hematologic oncologists said they valued hospice, but their concern about the quality of service made them hesitant to refer.
The survey was conducted in 2015 and generated a 57% response rate (347 respondents). Among the results:
- 7 in every 10 strongly agreed that hospice care is useful for hematologic cancer patients.
- Practices who treated more solid tumor patients were more than twice as likely to agree.
- Less than half believe home hospice is inadequate compared with inpatient hospice.
- More than half said they would be more apt to refer to hospice if red cell and/or platelet transfusions were available.
- 67% of respondents who considered home hospice inadequate said they would be more apt to refer to hospice if red cell transfusions were available.
- 53% of these respondents would refer to hospice if platelet transfusions were available.
Citation:
Odejide O, Cronin A, Earle C, Tulsky J Abel G. Why are patients with blood cancers more likely to die without hospice? [Published online ahead of print May 22, 2017]. Cancer. doi:10.1002/cncr.30735.