The Utilization of Specialty Palliative Care for Cancer Patients
An article published in PLoS ONE examines the utilization of specialty palliative care for people with cancer in a southeastern U.S. metropolitan area. The study reveals that only one-fourth of cancer patients accessed specialty palliative care, with half of these patients receiving it within the last 30 days of life. Factors influencing its use included socioeconomic status, age, race, cancer type, survival duration, hospitalization frequency, location, and proximity to services.