Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39120232›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2024

Intensity of Symptoms and Perception of Quality of Life on Admission to Palliative Care: Reality of a Portuguese Team.

Florbela Gonçalves, Margarida Gaudêncio, Ivo Cristiano Soares Paiva, Francisca Rego, Rui Nunes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Florbela GonçalvesPortuguese Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-5643-8613
Margarida GaudêncioPortuguese Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0003-2835-2473
Ivo Cristiano Soares PaivaHealth Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra, 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-8024-6734
Francisca RegoFaculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-8083-7895
Rui NunesFaculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-1377-9899

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPalliative care (PC) corresponds to an approach that enhances the quality of life for patients facing life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, as well as for their families. There are various models for providing palliative care. Early referral to PC of patients with advanced cancer has a significant positive impact on their quality of life. However, the criteria for early referral still remain controversial.

objectivesTo evaluate patients' symptomatic intensity and perception of quality of life on admission to a PC unit and to analyze these two variables according to different models of approach (outpatient and inpatient care).

methodsA cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with a sample of 60 patients sequentially admitted to a PC unit from palliative outpatient consultations or other inpatient services in a tertiary hospital dedicated to oncology care. The evaluation protocol included a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), and the Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS) completed by patients within the first 24 h after admission.

resultsThe participants were mostly male (61.7%), with a median age of 72 years. The majority of patients (

conclusionsThe patients admitted to the Palliative Care Unit presented a high symptom burden and changes in the perception of quality of life. However, there are no statistically significant differences between one model of approach in relation to the other. It was found that poorer symptom control and quality of life were associated with a shorter referral time for PC, because this was only initiated after curative care was suspended, particularly in our institutional context. Early referrals to the PC team are essential not only to relieve symptom-related distress but also to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for people with cancer.

Indexed as

medical oncologyoutcome assessmentpalliative carequality of lifesymptom assessment

Identifiers

PMID39120232
PMCPMC11312417

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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.