Palliative Care During Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Patients With Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Describe symptoms/concerns before, during, and after intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy and the impact of these symptoms/concerns on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with ovarian cancer undergoing IP chemotherapy. (Part I)
Analyze care received and resource utilization of these patients, including length of hospitalization, ICU admission rates, clinic visits, phone calls, urgent care visits, and other heath system encounters. (Part I)
Develop palliative care assessment measures and interventions that apply to IP chemotherapy. (Part II)
Implement a palliative care intervention in a pilot of 6 patients. (Part II)
Describe the impact of implementing palliative care interventions on resource utilization, improved QOL and symptoms, and number of chemotherapy courses completed. (Part II)

OUTLINE: This is a two-part study.

Part I (retrospective portion): Patients who have undergone intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy within the past 6-12 months undergo a retrospective interview and chart audit to identify their needs and experiences.
Part I (prospective portion): Patients are followed monthly for up to 6 months during IP chemotherapy to provide information about usual care and to identify needs and palliative care concerns. Patients also complete a quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire (COH QOL Ovarian tool) and undergo a prospective interview.
Part II (intervention): Patients undergo comprehensive palliative care assessment, a patient teaching session prior to the initiation of IP chemotherapy, and a palliative care intervention during IP chemotherapy. Patients also complete a QOL questionnaire and undergo an interview. Patients are followed monthly for up to 6 months during IP chemotherapy.