Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary consultation team for cancer pain and palliative care in a large university hospital in the Netherlands

Background Multidisciplinary palliative care teams (PCTs) are increasingly employed for cancer patients. However, relatively few studies have prospectively assessed the clinical effectiveness of inpatient PCTs. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary PCT for hospitalised cancer patients in a large university hospital in the Netherlands. Methods Clinical data and duration of hospitalisation were prospectively collected between January 2007 and December 2008. A group of cancer pain patients from 2006 served as a historical control. Results The number of consultations inc... Mehr ...