Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34823535›Full record

Observational studyBMC palliative care2021

Need for additional professional psychosocial and spiritual support in patients with advanced diseases in the course of specialist palliative care - a longitudinal observational study.

Anneke Ullrich, Holger Schulz, Sven Goldbach, Wiebke Hollburg, Annette Rommel, Marten Müller, Denise Kirsch, Katrin Kopplin-Förtsch, Julia Messerer, Louise König and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC palliative care, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
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

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Observational
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

13 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Anneke UllrichPalliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Hematology and BMT, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Holger SchulzDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Sven GoldbachSpecialist Outpatient Palliative Care Team "PalliativPartner Hamburg GbR", Hamburg, Germany.
Wiebke HollburgSpecialist Outpatient Palliative Care Team "PalliativPartner Hamburg GbR", Hamburg, Germany.
Annette RommelSpecialist Outpatient Palliative Care Team "Das Palliativteam", Hamburg, Germany.
Marten MüllerPalliative Care Ward, Asklepios Hospital Rissen, Hamburg, Germany.
Denise KirschSpecialist Outpatient Palliative Care Team "PCT Hamburg-West", Hamburg, Germany.
Katrin Kopplin-FörtschPalliative Care Ward, Agaplesion Diakonie-Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
Julia MessererPalliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Hematology and BMT, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Louise KönigPalliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Hematology and BMT, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Frank Schulz-KindermannDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Carsten BokemeyerPalliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Hematology and BMT, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Karin OechslePalliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Hematology and BMT, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. kaoechsl@uke.de.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5183-641X
Universität Hamburg · DEAgaplesion Frankfurter Diakonie Kliniken · DEAsklepios · DEPathologie Hamburg-West · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWe investigated the need for additional professional support and associated factors in patients (pts) at initiation and in the course of in- and outpatient specialist palliative care (I-SPC/O-SPC).

methodsPts entering an urban SPC network consecutively completed questionnaires on psychosocial/spiritual problems and support needs within 72 h (T0) as well as within the first 6 weeks (T1) of SPC. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of sociodemographic / disease-related variables, psychological / physical burden, social support, and SPC setting on the extent of support needs.

resultsFour hundred twenty-five pts (70 years, 48% female, 91% cancer, 67% O-SPC) answered at T0, and 167 at T1. At T0, main problems related to transportation, usual activities, and dependency (83-89%). At T1, most prevalent problems also related to transportation and usual activities and additionally to light housework (82-86%). At T0, support needs were highest for transportation, light housework, and usual activities (35-41%). Cross-sectional comparisons of SPC settings revealed higher problem scores in O-SPC compared to I-SPC at T0 (p = .039), but not at T1. Support need scores were higher in O-SPC at T0 (p < .001), but lower at T1 (p = .039). Longitudinal analyses showed a decrease of support need scores over time, independent from the SPC setting. At T0, higher distress (p = .047), anxiety/depression (p < .001), physical symptom burden (p < .001) and I-SPC (p < .001) were associated with higher support need scores (at T1: only higher distress, p = .037).

conclusionNeed for additional professional psychosocial/spiritual support was identified in up to 40% of pts. with higher need at the beginning of O-SPC than of I-SPC. During SPC, this need decreased in both settings, but got lower in O-SPC than in I-SPC over time. Support need scores were not only associated with psychological, but also physical burden.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPalliative CareCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesPalliative carePsychosocial needsSpecialist palliative careSpiritual needsSupport needs

Identifiers

PMID34823535
PMCPMC8613968
OpenAlexW3161278895

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.