Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Palliative care telehealth
2. Advanced NSCLC telehealth treatment

The randomized REACH PC trial showed that early palliative care delivered via telehealth is as effective as in-person visits for patients with advanced NSCLC. This study, presented at ASCO, emphasized the importance of integrating palliative care from diagnosis. Telehealth can overcome barriers to accessing care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial, which enrolled 1250 patients, found that telehealth and in-person visits had equivalent outcomes in terms of quality of life benefits. This research supports the expansion of telehealth services in oncology to improve access to palliative care. The findings suggest that telehealth should be integrated into standard oncology practice to enhance patient outcomes. Further research is essential to determine the optimal conditions for telehealth usage and to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors on the effectiveness of telehealth interventions. A study revealed that quality of life scores for patients receiving telehealth were comparable to those receiving in-person care. Despite lower caregiver participation in telehealth visits, there were no significant differences in depression, anxiety, coping skills, or satisfaction with care between the two groups. These findings support continued access to telehealth for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, especially for vulnerable populations. Future studies should focus on diverse patient representation and subgroup analyses to understand how sociodemographic variables affect intervention outcomes.

Study Shows Telehealth Equivalent to In-Person Palliative Care for Patients with Lung Cancer

In a groundbreaking randomized comparative effectiveness trial known as REACH PC, researchers have found that early palliative care (EPC) delivered via telehealth is just as effective as in-person visits in providing quality of life benefits to patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, which involved 1250 patients recently diagnosed with NSCLC and 548 caregivers, was presented by lead investigator Joseph Greer, PhD, at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Dr. Greer, co-director of the Cancer Outcomes Research & Education Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, emphasized the importance of integrating palliative care from the time of diagnosis of advanced cancer. National guidelines from organizations like ASCO recommend early palliative care to address the physical and psychological symptoms that often accompany advanced cancer.

Despite the proven efficacy of EPC for improving quality of life and mood symptoms in patients with advanced cancer, many individuals do not receive this care due to barriers such as limited availability of palliative care clinicians. Telehealth has emerged as a promising solution to overcome these obstacles, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the adoption of virtual care.

“Health care leaders recognize the benefits of telehealth for improving access to supportive oncology services,” Dr. Greer stated. “Our study aimed to determine whether telehealth is as effective as in-person care in improving patient outcomes.”

The REACH PC trial enrolled 1250 patients with advanced NSCLC who were randomly assigned to receive palliative care visits every 4 weeks via either video or in-person consultations. Participants completed self-report measures at various time points to assess quality of life, mood symptoms, and coping mechanisms.

At the 24-week mark, researchers found that the quality of life benefits of telehealth-delivered EPC were equivalent to those of in-person visits, as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) scale. Additionally, rates of caregiver participation and patient-reported depression and anxiety symptoms did not differ significantly between the two groups.

The results of the REACH PC trial have significant implications for the future of palliative care delivery. By demonstrating the equivalence of telehealth and in-person care, the study supports the expansion of telehealth services to improve access to palliative care for patients with advanced cancer. These findings can inform policy decisions regarding the integration of virtual care into standard oncology practice.

Overall, the REACH PC trial highlights the potential of telehealth to enhance the delivery of palliative care and improve quality of life outcomes for patients with advanced NSCLC. As telehealth continues to evolve and expand, it holds great promise for overcoming barriers to care and ensuring that patients receive the support they need during their cancer journey.

Telehealth Study Shows Positive Outcomes for Patients with Advanced NSCLC

In a recent study conducted by renowned researchers, including Dr. Greer and Dr. Gralow, the use of telehealth for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has shown promising results. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of telehealth interventions in providing palliative care to patients with serious illnesses, such as advanced NSCLC. The findings revealed that patients receiving telehealth-based palliative care had equivalent quality of life scores compared to those receiving in-person care at the 24-week mark.

Equivalence in Quality of Life Scores

At week 24, quality of life scores for patients assigned to the telehealth group were found to be comparable to those receiving in-person care. This suggests that telehealth interventions can effectively maintain or improve patients’ quality of life, even in the absence of face-to-face interactions. The adjusted means for quality of life scores were 99.67 for the telehealth group and 97.67 for the in-person group, showcasing the positive impact of telehealth on patient outcomes.

Caregiver Participation and Satisfaction

Although the study showed a lower rate of caregiver participation in EPC visits for the telehealth group compared to the in-person group, other key metrics such as depression and anxiety symptoms, use of coping skills, and perceptions of treatment goals remained consistent between the two groups. Additionally, patient and caregiver reported satisfaction with care did not differ significantly between the telehealth and in-person groups, highlighting the overall acceptance and effectiveness of telehealth interventions in palliative care settings.

Implications for Policy and Future Research

Dr. Greer emphasized the importance of these findings in supporting continued access to telehealth services for patients with advanced NSCLC, particularly for vulnerable populations facing serious illnesses. The study results are expected to inform policy decisions regarding the integration and coverage of virtual care in the future. However, further research is needed to explore the optimal circumstances for telehealth use, especially in reducing travel burdens, costs, and infection risks for immunocompromised or frail patients.

Expert Insights and Recommendations

ASCO’s chief medical officer, Julie Gralow, highlighted the broader dissemination potential of palliative care based on the study’s findings. She emphasized the importance of integrating palliative care early in the course of advanced cancer treatment and noted the potential of telehealth in expanding access to palliative care services. Dr. Charu Aggarwal echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes and survival in advanced lung cancer cases.

In conclusion, the study’s results underscore the positive impact of telehealth interventions in delivering palliative care to patients with advanced NSCLC. The findings support the integration of telehealth services as a viable option for improving access to quality care and enhancing patient outcomes in palliative care settings. Ongoing research and policy initiatives are crucial to further optimize the use of telehealth in healthcare delivery and ensure equitable access to essential services for all patients.