UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

  A Symptom Management Clinic (SMC) was formed to care for oncology patients presenting with complex symptoms at one location. 

Objective:

1.      To describe the symptoms for which oncology patients were referred.

2.      To describe additional presenting symptoms requiring management.

3.      To determine health care provider services utilized.

Methods:

Retrospective review of medical records and appointment schedules was undertaken for the first 9 months of SMC.

Results:

Forty-nine outpatient oncology patients were referred to a newly initiated SMC.  The symptom that initiated the referral (referral symptom) and additional symptoms presented at the first visit are depicted in Table 1.

                                                  Table 1

Referral Symptom	Number	Additional Symptoms	Number
Pain	40	Nutrition	5
Nutrition	6	Nausea/Vomiting	4
Pain/Depression	2	Depression	3
Nutrition/Social Work	1	Insomnia	3
		Constipation/Diarrhea	3
		Hot Flashes	2

A collaborative team directed by a physician and consisting of clinical pharmacist, nurse, social worker, and dietician staffs SMC.  The health care provider(s) seen at the initial visit are shown in Table 2

                                                    Table 2

Health Care Provider	Number
Physician	11
Clinical Pharmacist	32
Nurse	33
Social Worker	4
Dietician	12

The number of visits per patient range from 1 to 14 with an average of 4 visits.  

Conclusion

Oncology patients continue to experience a wide range of symptoms throughout their disease trajectory.  These symptoms require management by experienced health care providers.  The SMC, as an interdisciplinary and collaborative team, represents an appropriate platform to address these symptoms and alleviate patients suffering.