Palliative care for patients around the time of haematopoietic stem cell transplant: a qualitative study of patients' perceptions and experiences of unmet need and attitudes towards palliative care involvement.

Background: Haemato-oncology patients are likely to be referred later to palliative care than patients with solid tumours, despite experiencing similar symptom burden. Patients prior to stem cell transplant may benefit from symptom control, advance care planning and shared decision-making, and previous studies have demonstrated feasibility and benefit of such a service. However, the views of patients are not yet established, and are vital to ensure acceptability of the service.

"Triggers" for early palliative care referral in patients with cancer: a review of urgent unplanned admissions and outcomes.

Purpose: Benefits of early palliative referral in oncology are well documented. Palliative care referral "triggers" may help identify patients for referral. Many triggers have been proposed, but are not commonly used.