Introducing palliative care earlier in cancer treatment may improve patient satisfaction and quality of life scores, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Researchers randomly assigned 24 oncology clinics to receive palliative care consultations or standard care consultations for advanced cancer patients with a clinical prognosis of six to 24 months.
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After four months, patients who received palliative care consultations reported higher quality of life, higher quality of life at end of life, less severe symptoms and more satisfaction with care.
Differences in scores for patient communication with healthcare providers were statistically insignificant between the control group and the intervention group.
Researchers suggest early palliative care may help improve quality of life for patients with advanced stages of cancer.
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