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The PERSONS score for symptoms assessment in simultaneous care setting: A pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2018

Alessio Cortellini*
Affiliation:
Medical Oncology Unit, San Salvatore Hospital, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Giampiero Porzio
Affiliation:
Medical Oncology Unit, San Salvatore Hospital, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Eva K. Masel
Affiliation:
Clinical Division of Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Anna S. Berghoff
Affiliation:
Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Barbara Knotzer
Affiliation:
Clinical Division of Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Alessandro Parisi
Affiliation:
Medical Oncology Unit, San Salvatore Hospital, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Francesco Pavese
Affiliation:
Medical Oncology Unit, San Salvatore Hospital, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Corrado Ficorella
Affiliation:
Medical Oncology Unit, San Salvatore Hospital, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Lucilla Verna
Affiliation:
Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Alessio Cortellini, M.D., Medical Oncology Unit, St. Salvatore Hospital, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]

Extract

One of the first steps to early integrate palliative care into oncology practice is a timely and efficient evaluation of symptoms (Bakitas et al., 2015; Davis et al., 2015; Temel et al., 2010). In a recent position paper, the Italian Association of Medical Oncology tells oncologists that they “must be able to prevent, recognize, measure, and treat all cancer-related symptoms” (Zagonel et al., 2017). Major international scientific societies such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology have often defined the key role of symptoms evaluation and management to force the integration of palliative care into oncology (Davis et al., 2015; Ferrel et al., 2017). Nevertheless, a recent survey conducted by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology shows that only 20% of oncologists regularly uses valid tools to evaluate symptoms, 45% exclusively use them in the context of clinical trials, 30% use them only occasionally, and 5% never use them (Zagonel et al., 2016).

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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