Palliative Care: An Underutilized Resource in Cancer Survivorship and Improving Quality of Life for People with Cancer.

Kōkua Mau, Hawaii Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has successfully collaborated with the Hawaii Cancer Control Programs since 2005.  To learn how other states collaborate with organizations providing hospice and palliative care, Kōkua Mau conducted a survey in September 2009. The results are presented in this 20-page report (PDF).  

Hospice and palliative care professionals and programs are an under-utilized resource for Comprehensive Cancer Control Programs.  Palliative Care provides supportive care from the time of diagnosis to relieve physical, emotional and spiritual suffering, using a team approach to help patients and their loved ones.  As Comprehensive Cancer Control Programs and coalitions increase their emphasis on cancer survivorship and quality of life, and multi-disciplinary, patient and family centered palliative care programs expand, there are good opportunities for collaboration.

The survey focused on five areas:

• public education
• patient, family and caregiver education
• research, epidemiology and prevention
• professional educational
• and policy and planning

Summary findings:

• Forty-four % (29/66) of states, territories and Indian Tribes, reported that they already have some collaboration although few states reported activities in all areas.  
• Results show that 27 states have end-of-life issues built into the state plan, 22 have a palliative care liaison, collaborate to disseminate end-of-life materials and include palliative care topics in conferences, and
• 19 collaborate on advance care planning education and study barriers to end-of-life care.  

There are mutually beneficial ways for hospice and palliative care experts and the cancer community to partner to improve survivorship. (For details please see the full report)