Table 3 Seven most frequently reported reasons for referral and problems identified by PCCT, by subgroup of patients with CANCER or OTHER primary diagnosis
Cancer Patients (n = 504) | Patients with other primary diagnosis (n = 240) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reasons for referral | |||||
n | (%) | n | (%) | ||
Pain | 289 | (57,3) | Pain | 84 | (35,7) |
Early encounter | 123 | (24,4) | Decision to withhold or withdraw treatments | 79 | (33,6) |
Decision for place of care | 93 | (18,5) | Decision for place of care | 54 | (23,0) |
Anxiety/depression/emotional distress | 67 | (13,3) | Dyspnea/cough/sputum | 49 | (20,9) |
Dyspnea/cough/sputum | 57 | (11,3) | Early encounter | 46 | (19,6) |
Decision to withhold or withdraw treatments | 47 | (9,3) | Anxiety/depression/emotional burden/grief, as a family issue | 33 | (14,0) |
Anxiety/depression/emotional burden/grief, as a family issue | 35 | (6,9) | Swallowing disorders | 25 | (10,6) |
Problems identified by PCCT | |||||
Pain | 311 | (61,7) | Pain | 106 | (45,1) |
Fatigue | 185 | (36,7) | Decision to withhold or withdraw treatments | 101 | (43,0) |
Anxiety/depression/emotional distress | 170 | (33,7) | Dyspnea/cough/sputum | 80 | (34,0) |
Early encounter | 130 | (25,8) | Decision for place of care | 69 | (29,4) |
Appetite loss / difficulty of oral intake | 122 | (24,2) | Choice of drug/change in the drug dosage or the route of administration | 68 | (28,9) |
Choice of drug/change in the drug dosage or the route of administration | 120 | (23,8) | Anxiety/depression/emotional burden/grief, as a family issue | 61 | (26,0) |
Decision for place of care | 117 | (23,2) | Fatigue | 59 | (25,1) |