Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33710412›Full record

Observational studySupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2021

Supportive care for cancer patients: a survey of available settings and current practices in Belgium.

Christel Fontaine, Marie-Aline Echterbille, Jean Klastersky, BSMO (Belgian Society of Medical Oncology) Supportive Care Working Group

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, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Evaluating pain management practices for cancer patients among health professionals in cancer and supportive/palliative care units: a Belgian survey.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Article
  2. Review
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

4 authors.

Christel FontaineDepartment of Medical Oncology, Oncologisch Centrum - Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Marie-Aline EchterbilleMedicine Oncology Department, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Jean KlasterskyMedicine Oncology Department, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. jean.klastersky@bordet.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7941-2387
BSMO (Belgian Society of Medical Oncology) Supportive Care Working Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe increasing number of cancer diagnoses and deaths underlines the importance of supportive and palliative care. It is defined as "all the care and the support necessary for patients throughout their illness."

aimTo evaluate the current status of the supportive and palliative care organization in Belgium.

methodsThe Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO) supportive care task force conducted an observational study by sending a 31-point questionnaire to medical doctors responsible for the supportive care units of university, public, or private hospitals in Belgium.

resultsThirty centers completed the questionnaire, of which 12 were university hospitals. Inpatient supportive care units are available in more than 50% of the centers, whereas outpatient supportive care is less available in Brussels than in Flanders and Wallonia. Multidisciplinary teams or specific units dedicated exclusively to supportive care are represented less frequently in all 3 areas of Belgium. Intensive care units for cancer patients are even scarcer. In terms of research and teaching, active research is present in 10 (33%) centers. Of complementary and alternative medicine modalities available to cancer patients, mindfulness and massage are offered most frequently. Reference guidelines for various symptoms are widely used in Flanders and Brussels but less so in Wallonia.

conclusionThis is the first in-depth survey in Belgium that shows the limited availability of dedicated supportive care services throughout the country. This represents an unmet need for Belgian cancer patients. Within the BSMO supportive care task force, there is a great opportunity to expand services and develop active research in the area of supportive and palliative care.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPalliative CareBelgiumHumansSurveys and QuestionnairesBelgiumSupportive careSupportive care units

Identifiers

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.