The Frequency and Factors Associated With the Use of a Dedicated Supportive Care Center Telephone Triaging Program in XXXX With @entity5 at a @entity5 Center.

@entity1 @entity308 @entity5 @entity1295 @entity148 @entity158 @entity22
CONTEXT: There is limited literature on characteristics of telephone triage programs and the nature of interventions in palliative care. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine frequency and type of care provided by a Supportive Care Center Telephone Triaging Program (SCCTP) in advanced @entity5 @entity1 (ACPs). METHODS: Electronic medical records were reviewed of 400 consecutive ACPs referred to palliative care at a comprehensive @entity5 center and given access to the SCCTP: 200 from the outpatient (OP) supportive care center and 200 from inpatient (IP) palliative care given access after discharge. We reviewed call frequency, type, reason, and outcomes including @entity158 and other symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale [MDAS]) associated with utilization of the SCCTP. RESULTS: A total of 375 @entity1 were evaluable. One hundred fifteen of 400 @entity1 (29%) used the SCCTP: 96 OPs (83%) used the SCCTP vs. only 19 IPs (17%) (P  <  0.001). The most common reasons for calls were @entity158 (24%), @entity158 medication refills (24%), and counseling (12%). For 115 phone calls, 43% (145 of 340) of recommendations were regarding care at home and 56% were regarding opioids. @entity1 who used the SCCTP had worse @entity158 (P  =  0.006), @entity1295 (P  =  0.045), @entity308 (P  =  0.041), and well-being (P  =  0.015) and better MDAS scores (P  =  0.014) compared with nonusers. OPs had a higher prevalence of symptom distress (P  =  0.013), @entity308 (P  <  0.001), @entity148 (P  <  0.01), and @entity22 scores (P  =  0.001); MDAS scores were significantly higher in IPs (P  <  0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that overall utilization of the SCCTP by ACPs referred to palliative care was relatively low at 28.7%. The use of the SCCTP was particularly poor among the IPs on discharge. @entity1 who used SCCTP had worse @entity158 , @entity1295 , @entity308 , and well-being scores and better delirium scores.
