Characteristics and outcomes of advanced cancer patients who miss outpatient supportive care consult appointments.

Background: Missed appointments (MA) are frequent, but there are no studies on the effects of the first MA at supportive care outpatient clinics on clinical outcomes.

Methods: We determined the frequency of MA among all patients referred to our clinic from January-December 2011 and recorded the clinical and demographic data and outcomes of 218 MA patients and 217 consecutive patients who kept their first appointments (KA).

Results: Of 1,352 advanced-cancer patients referred to our clinic, 218 (16 %) had an MA.

Frequency and factors associated with falls in patients with advanced cancer presenting to an outpatient supportive care clinic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with fall episodes in advanced cancer patients.

Method: We analyzed data that included demographic characteristics, utilization of assistive devices, cancer diagnosis, metastatic site, performance status, medications including hypnotics and opioids, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) score, and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) score in 384 consecutive patients who were newly referred to the Supportive Care Clinic at the MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 1 to December 31, 2009. All patients completed standardized forms to report falls within the last month.

Spirituality, religiosity, and spiritual pain among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer often face physical, social, and emotional distress as well as spiritual pain. Limited research has focused on the spiritual aspects of caregivers' suffering in the palliative care setting.

Methods: We interviewed 43 caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in our palliative care outpatient clinic.