Clinician Roles in Symptoms and Signs Improvement among Advanced Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: We, study and research how to improve terminally ill cancer patients’ symptoms and signs to ease their pain. Furthermore we also seek how the dedicated palliative care service effects on the cancer patients’ results.Methods: We analyzed 334 physician-diagnosed terminally ill cancer patients and categorized them into non-dedicated hospice care group of 234 and dedicated hospice care group of 100.Results: Symptoms improvement of dyspnea, fatigue, drowsiness, and dry mouth during the first week of admission were respectively 298 (89.2%), 25 (7.5%), 204 (61.1%), 76 (22.8%). Signs improvement of myoclonus, respiratory secretion, leg edema, and ascites between admission and a week after were 5 (1.5%), 41 (12.3%), 47 (14.1%), 12 (3.6%). Significant differences between dedicated hospice care physician group and non-dedicated hospice care physician group were shown in drowsiness (67.5% vs 46 %, p < 0.001) and respiratory secretion (15% vs 6%, p < 0.028).Conclusions:In conclusion, terminally ill cancer patients who received palliative or hospice service showed significant improvement in symptoms and illness signs. Moreover, family doctors (dedicated hospice physician group) performed better than oncologist (non-dedicated physician group).