Integration of Palliative Care into the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Germany - Consultation Hours and Fellowship Rotations of the Specialized Palliative Care

Berendt J, Thomas M, Neukirchen M, Schwartz J, Hense J, Tewes M (2018)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift Georg Thieme Verlag

Book Volume: 143

Pages Range: e139-e145

Journal Issue: 17

DOI: 10.1055/a-0626-9934

Abstract

BACKGROUND:  Comprehensive Cancer Centers are characterized by interdisciplinary exchange for meeting increasingly complex care needs during the course of the disease. Tumor consultations hours and fellowship rotations build hereby bridges between the subjects and disciplines. OBJECTIVES:  In order to be able to provide support in the Comprehensive Cancer Center Network for the further integration of specialized palliative medicine, it was highlighted to what extent consultation hours and fellowship rotations for the palliative care are integrated into the centers. METHODS:  Information about the spS and fellowship rotation of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (n = 16), which had previously been funded by the Cancer Aid, was paper-based collected with a survey questionnaire. For this purpose, the heads of the palliative care departments of the centers were interviewed from July to August 2017. The evaluation was performed by SPSS (frequency, mean value, median, range). RESULTS:  15 from 16 centers responded to the survey (93.75 %). Nine centers (60 %) have a consultation hour for palliative care. Four from nine centers can submit this offer for ≥ 4 hours (44.4 %). Fellowship rotations in the palliative care occur primarily in all centers from oncology / hematology (n = 11, 73.3 %) and anaesthesia (n = 6) and often for a twelve months (n = 11) period of time. CONCLUSION:  Outpatient structures of the palliative care have been insufficiently implemented to a consultation hour within Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The existing effort to integrate palliative care into the oncological course of disease requires further structuring in order to increase the visibility of palliative care services. Fellowship rotations in the palliative care department are regularly implemented in the network even if only for some of the subjects in order to raise awareness of the possibilities of the palliative care.

Authors with CRIS profile

Julia Berendt Department of Palliative Medicine

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Essen DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Berendt, J., Thomas, M., Neukirchen, M., Schwartz, J., Hense, J., & Tewes, M. (2018). Integration of Palliative Care into the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Germany - Consultation Hours and Fellowship Rotations of the Specialized Palliative Care. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, 143(17), e139-e145. https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-0626-9934

MLA:

Berendt, Julia, et al. "Integration of Palliative Care into the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Germany - Consultation Hours and Fellowship Rotations of the Specialized Palliative Care." Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 143.17 (2018): e139-e145.

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