ArticleBMC palliative care2020
Use of symptom-focused oncological cancer therapies in hospices: a retrospective analysis.
Article in BMC palliative care, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Causes of early hospital readmission in hospice patients at a comprehensive oncology center in Jordan: a retrospective descriptive study.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Palliative care interventions and outcome in patients with glioblastoma - a retrospective, single-center study.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Living with brain metastasis - a qualitative study of patients' and family members' coping strategies.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2025Article
- Is the use of antibiotic stewardship measures in the context of specialized outpatient palliative care sensible and feasible? An interview-based study.BMC palliative care · 2024Article
- Inpatient Hospices in Germany: Medical Care Situation and Use of Supportive Oncological Therapies for Symptom Control in Tumor Patients.Palliative medicine reports · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is controversy regarding the practical implementation of symptom-focused oncological cancer therapies to hospice residents. In this study, we aim to analyse the use and indication of supportive-oncological cancer therapies in hospices.
methodsWe conducted a retrospective survey of all residents of two hospice centres in the government district of Lower Bavaria, Germany. Hospice 1 (H1) was a member of an oncological-palliative medical network, and hospice 2 (H2) was independently organized. The evaluation period was the first 40 months after the opening of the respective hospice care centre. Demographical and epidemiological data as well as indications and type of supportive-oncological cancer therapies were recorded. A descriptive analysis and statistical tests were performed.
resultsOf the 706 residents, 645 had an underlying malignant disease. The average age was 72 years and the mean residence time was 28 days. The most frequent cancer types were gastrointestinal cancers, gynaecological cancers and bronchial carcinomas. Overall 39 residents (33 in H1 and 6 in H2, p < 0.01) received symptom-focused oncological cancer therapy. The average age of these residents was 68 years, and the mean residence time was 55 days. The most common therapeutic indications were dyspnoea and pain. The most common symptom-focused oncological cancer therapies were bisphosphonates, transfusions (erythrocyte- and platelet- concentrates), radiotherapy and anti-proliferative drugs (chemotherapy, anti-hormonal- and targeted- therapies). Patients with therapy lived significantly longer than patients without therapy (p < 0.01).
conclusionsSymptom-focused oncological cancer therapies can be implemented in hospices; however, their implementation seems to require certain structural and organizational prerequisites as well as careful patient selection. As a palliative medical approach, the focus is to ameliorate the symptoms and not prolong life. Symptom-focused oncology treatment could be a further and important part for the therapy of hospice patients in the future.
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