Sebastiano Mercadante1, Andrea Costanzi2, Fabrizio David3, Patrizia Villari3, Maurizio Musso4, Paolo Marchetti2, Alessandra Casuccio5. 1. Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit and Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy. terapiadeldolore@lamaddalenanet.it. 2. Department of Oncology, Hospital Sant'Andrea, University of Rome, Roma, Italy. 3. Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit and Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146, Palermo, Italy. 4. Department of Hemato-oncology, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy. 5. Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the field of hemato-oncology, there is paucity of data assessing models of integration between hemato-oncology and other partner specialties. The aim of this national survey was to gather information about the status of the integration of this kind of activity in hemato-oncologic units existing in Italy. METHODS: A national telephone survey was conducted to gather information about the status of the integration of hemato-oncologic and supportive care/anesthesiological services. From the national registry of hemato-oncology units, 149 centers were contacted by phone and a dedicated doctor was identified to gather information about the center through a telephone interview. RESULTS: Eighty-one centers (54.3 %) agreed to participate. A mean of 206 (SD 132) painful procedures/year/center were performed. No significant differences among regions and centers were found (P = 0.680). Of the centers, 41.9 % usually asked for anesthesiological consultation to perform painful procedures. No differences were found between the regions (P = 0.137). A mean of 1.8 (SD 1.2) days elapsed from the request to the procedure performance (P = 0.271). No differences among the regions were found (P = 0.350). A mean of 220 (SD 89) central venous vascular accesses/year/center were performed. No differences among regions were found (P = 0.170). No differences among the centers were found (P = 0.691). A mean of 1.8 (SD 1.2) days elapsed from the request to the performance of procedure. Of the centers, 64.2 % had a palliative care team. No differences among regions were found (P = 0.331). A mean of 31.5 (SD 12.2) consultations/year/center for pain control were required. No differences among the regions were found (P = 0.556). Of the centers, 30.8 % had some beds for palliative care. No differences among the regions were found (P = 0.641). Of the centers, 32 % had a hospice was available. No differences among regions were found (P = 0.298). CONCLUSION: Integration between hemato-oncology and other professionals is unlikely to be optimal in Italy. Such integration is complex and needs great efforts to solve several organizational problems.
BACKGROUND: In the field of hemato-oncology, there is paucity of data assessing models of integration between hemato-oncology and other partner specialties. The aim of this national survey was to gather information about the status of the integration of this kind of activity in hemato-oncologic units existing in Italy. METHODS: A national telephone survey was conducted to gather information about the status of the integration of hemato-oncologic and supportive care/anesthesiological services. From the national registry of hemato-oncology units, 149 centers were contacted by phone and a dedicated doctor was identified to gather information about the center through a telephone interview. RESULTS: Eighty-one centers (54.3 %) agreed to participate. A mean of 206 (SD 132) painful procedures/year/center were performed. No significant differences among regions and centers were found (P = 0.680). Of the centers, 41.9 % usually asked for anesthesiological consultation to perform painful procedures. No differences were found between the regions (P = 0.137). A mean of 1.8 (SD 1.2) days elapsed from the request to the procedure performance (P = 0.271). No differences among the regions were found (P = 0.350). A mean of 220 (SD 89) central venous vascular accesses/year/center were performed. No differences among regions were found (P = 0.170). No differences among the centers were found (P = 0.691). A mean of 1.8 (SD 1.2) days elapsed from the request to the performance of procedure. Of the centers, 64.2 % had a palliative care team. No differences among regions were found (P = 0.331). A mean of 31.5 (SD 12.2) consultations/year/center for pain control were required. No differences among the regions were found (P = 0.556). Of the centers, 30.8 % had some beds for palliative care. No differences among the regions were found (P = 0.641). Of the centers, 32 % had a hospice was available. No differences among regions were found (P = 0.298). CONCLUSION: Integration between hemato-oncology and other professionals is unlikely to be optimal in Italy. Such integration is complex and needs great efforts to solve several organizational problems.
Authors: Pasquale Niscola; Andrea Tendas; Marco Giovannini; Laura Scaramucci; Alessio Perrotti; Paolo de Fabritiis; Debra A Howell Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-10-24 Impact factor: 3.603