In the journals: Early palliative care extends life in lung cancer study
Before the study began and again after 12 weeks, participants answered questions about symptoms, social well-being, and physical and emotional health. A standard questionnaire on symptoms of depression was included. Patients receiving palliative care met at least once a month with physicians and nurses on the hospital's palliative care team, who followed a program adapted from National Consensus Project (NCP) guidelines on palliative care. These guidelines emphasize the importance of helping patients understand their illness and treatment goals; make treatment decisions; mobilize support from family, friends, and others; and manage symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Throughout the study, researchers collected data on patients' use of end-of-life care, including anticancer therapies, medications, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and referral to hospice.
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