A recent study sheds light on the disparities in palliative care access for patients battling life-limiting diseases, despite the availability of effective screening tools.
Researchers evaluated the Palliative Care and Rapid Emergency Screening (P-CaRES) tool, initially designed for emergency settings, to determine its effectiveness in identifying unmet palliative care needs among internal medicine ward patients. The retrospective analysis encompassed 2,509 patients, of which nearly 24% were diagnosed with at least one life-limiting disease.
Effective Tool Identifies Patients
The P-CaRES tool successfully pinpointed 71.5% of patients with palliative care needs. Notably, advanced cancer cases were significantly more likely to receive palliative services. Additionally, patients who frequently hospitalize or responded affirmatively to the surprise question—“Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next year?”—also showed higher rates of palliative care receipt.
Significant Gaps in Care Delivery
Despite the tool’s effectiveness in identifying needs, only about 21% of those identified received palliative care services. The study highlighted a stark disparity, especially among non-cancer patients, indicating substantial gaps between identified needs and actual care provided. Median survival times were notably shorter for patients with unmet palliative care needs, emphasizing the critical nature of timely interventions.
- Advanced cancer significantly increases likelihood of receiving palliative care.
- Frequent hospitalizations are strong predictors of palliative care needs.
- Responding “yes” to the surprise question correlates with shorter survival.
The findings underscore the necessity for structured screening processes and prompt referrals to bridge the existing gaps in palliative care delivery. Implementing systematic approaches can ensure that seriously ill patients receive the comprehensive care they require, enhancing their quality of life during critical times.
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