Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2014

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing

Volume

16

Issue

2

First Page

67

Last Page

72

DOI of Original Publication

10.1097/NJH.0000000000000035

Date of Submission

March 2015

Abstract

Radiotherapy effectively palliates malignant sources of pain. However, once enrolled on hospice, patients are rarely referred for this treatment. To develop educational strategies that can improve access to care, a survey of hospice providers investigated potential misconceptions about its benefits and availability. Individual surveys were distributed to administrators, nursing directors, and medical directors at 16 licensed hospices within 25 miles of a radiation oncology facility. Ninety-three percent of hospice professionals stated radiotherapy provides pain relief and is appropriate for patients with more than 1 month of life expectancy. However, less than 1% of their cancer patients had been referred to a radiation oncologist over the past year, citing concerns about cost and travel burden. Whereas most medical directors (75%) were aware it is just as effective when delivered in a single fraction, very few administrators (22%) and nursing directors (21%) had this knowledge. Meanwhile, reluctance of a radiation oncologist to offer single-fraction palliative radiotherapy was experienced by 43%. Access to palliative radiotherapy for this unique population can be increased by improving education for hospice administrators and nursing directors and reminding radiation oncologists that single-fraction palliative radiotherapy is acceptable and ideal for patients with limited financial resources at the end of life.

Rights

© 2014 by The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, April 2014, Volume 16, Issue 2, pp 67–72 available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000035.

Is Part Of

VCU Radiation Oncology Publications

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