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  • PR077/#690  Gynecologic oncologists’ practice patterns and associated barriers toward palliative-hospice care: a survey of the Korean gynecologic oncology group

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AS12. Palliative care
PR077/#690  Gynecologic oncologists’ practice patterns and associated barriers toward palliative-hospice care: a survey of the Korean gynecologic oncology group
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  1. Ga Won Yim1,
  2. Soo Jin Park2,
  3. Jae Man Bae3,
  4. Shin Hye Yoo4,
  5. Dong-Wook Shin5,
  6. Won Moo Lee6,
  7. Hee Seung Kim2,
  8. Yoo Young Lee7 and
  9. Seung-Hyuk Shim8
  1. 1Dongguk University College of Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Goyang-si, Korea, Republic of
  2. 2Seoul National University Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  3. 3Hanyang University, 3department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  4. 4Seoul National University Hospital, Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  5. 5Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  6. 6Hanyang University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  7. 7Samsung Medical Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  8. 8Konkuk University Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Abstract

Introduction Gynecologic oncologists frequently care for patients with advanced cancer and at the end of life. A new legislation on Hospice, Palliative Care and Life-sustaining Treatment Decision (LSTD) has been enforced in Korea since 2018. However, there still exists barriers in integrating early and specialized palliative care (PC) into gynecologic cancer care. The objective of this study was to identify practice patterns, attitudes, and perceived barriers of PC among Korean gynecologic oncologists (GO).

Methods Members were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey via the Google Forms. A Likert scale captured practice patterns, perceptions and barriers to timely PC implementation or referral.

Results Ninety-three (55.4%) gynecologic oncologists completed the survey. The majority (82.8%) referred patients to specialty PC service, mainly for complex symptom management and subsequent referral to hospice. The timing of referral was most frequent when assumed prognosis was <1–2 months (34.8%). Almost half (49.5%) responded that early PC should be provided primarily by GOs and 40.9% felt the need for collaboration with PC specialists. The most frequently perceived PC barriers included patients’ and families’ unrealistic expectations (58.8%) and difficulty in prognostication (18.5%). The difficulties in discussing PC issues with patients were lack of knowledge in PC (28.3%), time constraints (26.5%), and physician distress. Most (94.6%) strongly agreed on the implementation of LSTD and felt the need for systematic training in palliative care (90.2%).

Conclusion/Implications According to this cohort of KGOG members, patients’ unrealistic expectations, difficulty in prognostication, and lack of physicians’ knowledge were the most frequent barriers to providing PC.

https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2023-IGCS.116

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