Optimization of complex palliative care at home by means of expert consultation via telemedicine.

Conditions: The symptom burden of palliative patients and the palliative trajectory in oncological patients. Further, the experienced continuity of care by the patients will be studied, as well as the burden of care of the family caregiver. Keywords English: Palliative care, symptom burden, teleconsultation, teleconferencing, continuity of care.Dutch: palliatieve zorg, symptoomlast, teleconsultatie, videobellen, continuiteit van zorg

Registration Number: NL-OMON23729

Lead Sponsor: MC St Radboud, department Anesthesiology, pain and palliative care.

Brief Summary: /A

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Pending

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

Dutch-speaking patients, aged 18 years or older, with a progressive oncological disease in an advanced stage, that have a life expectancy of 3 months or less (Karnofsky-score <= 60).

On the moment of inclusion, the patients stay at home with a GP as coordinator of medical care.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients unable to give informed consent;

2. Patients with an active psychotic disorder or a serious cognitive disorder.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The multidimensional symptom burden of the patient (ESAS; HADS) at baseline and then every week.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. Level of identification of problems and needs (PNPC - sv) at baseline and after every 4 weeks;<br /><br>2. Experienced quality of care (questionnaire ‘continuity of care’, developed by the St Radboud Medical Center) at baseline and after every 4 weeks;<br /><br>3. Satisfaction with the teleconsultation for patient, GP and member of the palliative consultation team (PSQ) just after the first two teleconsultations;<br /><br>4. Burden of care of the informal caregiver (EDIZ) at baseline and after every two weeks;<br /><br>5. Number and indication of hospital admissions at the end of the inclusion period.