May 22 (UPI) -- A study by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute examined the cause for why hematologic oncologists refer their patients to hospice at significantly lower rates.
Prior research has shown that blood cancer patients are less likely to enroll in hospice care compared to patients with solid cancers.
Findings in a national survey suggest concerns about the efficacy of hospice may be preventing blood cancer specialists from referring patients to hospice.
Researchers surveyed a national sample of 349 hematologic oncologists from the clinical directory of the American Society of Hematology and found that 46 percent of oncologists believed home hospice care was inadequate for the needs of blood cancer patients compared to inpatient hospices with round-the-clock care, despite more than 68 percent of hematologic oncologists strongly agreeing that hospice care in general is helpful for patients with blood cancers.
More than half of respondents said they would be more likely to refer patients to hospice if red cell and/or platelet transfusions were available.
Research showed blood cancer patients are not only less likely to receive hospice care but when they enroll, they spend less time in hospice care compared to patients with other types of cancer.
"Our findings are important as they shed light on factors that are potential barriers to hospice referrals," Dr. Oreofe Odejide, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said in a press release. "These findings can be employed to develop targeted interventions to address hospice underuse for patients with blood cancers."
The study was published in the journal Cancer.
