Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31578643›Full record

Observational studySupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2020

Defining a new model of interdisciplinary cancer cachexia care in regional Victoria, Australia.

Vanessa C Vaughan, Helen Farrell, Paul A Lewandowski, Scott G McCoombe, Peter Martin

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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  5. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Vanessa C VaughanSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3879-2448
Helen FarrellBarwon Health Cachexia and Nutrition Support Service, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Paul A LewandowskiSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
Scott G McCoombeSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
Peter MartinSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia. peter.martin@deakin.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1214-5149

Funding

Bellberry Ltd n/aDeakin University HDRPubVictorian Cancer Agency (AU) SCS09_04
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCachexia is a wasting condition affecting approximately 50% of cancer patients, associated with decreased quality of life and survival. Barwon Health's Cachexia and Nutrition Support Service provides person-centred interdisciplinary care to assist the management of cachexia symptoms. This study describes a novel and effective service model established in a regional cachexia clinic and the patient population it serves.

methodsA descriptive, retrospective longitudinal study was conducted of records from patients attending Barwon Health between 2008 and 2013 (n = 175), alongside the description of service refinement over this time. Patients with ≥ 2 attendance dates were assessed for anthropometric measures, follow-up intervals, and muscle function outcomes to describe patient trajectory during clinic involvement.

resultsThis is the first detailed description of a successful interdisciplinary clinic specific to cancer cachexia management, where patients are seen outside established 8- to 12-week structured programs which prevail in other cachexia clinics. Seventy-five patients (43%) attended one appointment only, with almost half of these (n = 33) first attending within 60 days of death. Of the 99 patients with two or more appointments, 49% displayed positive outcomes with > 2-kg weight gain between two consecutive appointments, and > 50% improved functional strength between two consecutive appointments.

conclusionsThe majority of patients attending clinic multiple times maintained or increased weight and functional status during their involvement with the service. However, successes of care provision were muted by high attrition, primarily due to delayed referral and expected high mortality within the study cohort. Planned future analyses with greater patient numbers and cancer stratification will establish cachectic populations most likely to benefit from this novel mode of interdisciplinary care. The Cachexia and Nutrition Support Service provides an effective and efficient service model for the provision of specialist cachexia care to community-dwelling patients in regional Australia.

Indexed as

AdultAgedAged, 80 and overAmbulatory Care FacilitiesAppointments and SchedulesCachexiaFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasmsPatient Care TeamQuality of LifeRetrospective StudiesSelf CareCancer cachexiaClinical service modelInterdisciplinary careMuscle wastingNutritionPalliative careQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID31578643

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.