Supportive care for cancer patients: a survey of available settings and current practices in Belgium.

Introduction: The increasing number of cancer diagnoses and deaths underlines the importance of supportive and palliative care. It is defined as "all the care and the support necessary for patients throughout their illness."

Aim: To evaluate the current status of the supportive and palliative care organization in Belgium.

Methods: The Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO) supportive care task force conducted an observational study by sending a 31-point questionnaire to medical doctors responsible for the supportive care units of university, public, or private hospitals in Belgium.

Results: Thirty centers completed the questionnaire, of which 12 were university hospitals. Inpatient supportive care units are available in more than 50% of the centers, whereas outpatient supportive care is less available in Brussels than in Flanders and Wallonia. Multidisciplinary teams or specific units dedicated exclusively to supportive care are represented less frequently in all 3 areas of Belgium. Intensive care units for cancer patients are even scarcer. In terms of research and teaching, active research is present in 10 (33%) centers. Of complementary and alternative medicine modalities available to cancer patients, mindfulness and massage are offered most frequently. Reference guidelines for various symptoms are widely used in Flanders and Brussels but less so in Wallonia.

Conclusion: This is the first in-depth survey in Belgium that shows the limited availability of dedicated supportive care services throughout the country. This represents an unmet need for Belgian cancer patients. Within the BSMO supportive care task force, there is a great opportunity to expand services and develop active research in the area of supportive and palliative care.