Cuidados Paliativos e Medicina

Abstrato

To Refer or Not To Refer? - Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncology Regarding Palliative Care Referrals

Nicholas Lee Wei Law, Yoke Ling Choo, Pei Jye Voon

Palliative care's integration into oncology is crucial, with early referral linked to enhanced outcomes. Survey results from Sarawak General Hospital suggest practitioner awareness and access to palliative care, yet tendencies to refer late persist. Our survey showed that senior oncologists tend to refer later in the course of disease compared to junior practitioners. More junior practitioners in contrast are more likely to refer for communication difficulties. Further research is needed to include the rest of Malaysia or Southeast Asia to better understand regional referral practices. National integration of palliative care into oncology training is recommended.