[Hinews] A new study reveals that survival rates for patients with advanced cancer can more than double depending on the quality of palliative care they receive, while depressive symptoms decrease significantly. This groundbreaking research is the first to demonstrate that it is not merely the availability of palliative care, but its quality, that profoundly influences patients' lives and outcomes.

Patients with progressive cancer face not only treatment challenges but also pain, depression, anxiety, and other issues. While early palliative care is intended to provide support, efforts until now have largely focused on expanding access rather than ensuring quality. A research team led by Professor Young Ho Yun at Seoul National University Hospital analyzed changes in mental health and survival rates among 144 patients across 12 hospitals, measuring the quality of palliative care delivered.

The quality of palliative care was assessed based on patients' experiences with communication from medical staff, emotional support, and involvement in decision-making. Results showed that after 24 weeks, depression rates in the high-quality care group dropped to 14.7%—less than half the baseline—while the low-quality care group remained at 39.1%. Two-year survival rates were also more than double in the high-quality group at 25%, compared to 11.8% in the low-quality group.

(From left) Professor Young Ho Yun, Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital; and Professor EunKyo Kang, Department of Family Medicine, National Cancer Center (Photo courtesy of Seoul National University Hospital)
(From left) Professor Young Ho Yun, Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital; and Professor EunKyo Kang, Department of Family Medicine, National Cancer Center (Photo courtesy of Seoul National University Hospital)


Quality of life and self-management abilities also showed greater improvement in the high-quality palliative care group.
Professor EunKyo Kang at the National Cancer Center stated, "This provides evidence that the quality of palliative care is directly linked to patient survival," emphasizing that "palliative care is not just an option but an essential component of management." Professor Yun added, "Beyond expanding the quantity of services, establishing a system for quality management is urgently needed."

The study was published in the online edition of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

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