Patients’ challenges and physicians’ tasks according to EPC phases in the setting of haematological malignancies (HMs)
| EPC phase | Patients’ challenges | Palliative care specialists’ tasks |
| First visits |
Absorbing the shock of diagnosis
Maintaining emotional equilibrium Adapting to the diagnosis Adapting to changes in life |
Building partnership
Reviewing and managing physical and psychosocial symptoms Psychosocial assessment Assessing illness and prognostic understanding Exploring concerns about the future |
| Middle visits | Adjusting to the diagnosis Adapting to several changes in life Living as well as possible with HM Expanding hopes Deepening prognostic awareness | Building partnership Reviewing and managing physical and psychosocial symptoms Exploring hopes and worries Expanding hopes Assessing prognostic understanding Assisting with coping Cultivating prognostic awareness Advance care planning |
| Final visits | Living as well as possible with HM Expanding hopes Deepening prognostic awareness Recognising priorities and values Making informed choices Acknowledging end of life Dying well | Building partnership Reviewing and managing symptoms Assisting with coping Cultivating prognostic awareness Leading goals of care conversations Shared decision-making Advance care planning End-of-life planning |
Patients’ challenges and physicians’ tasks in bold are those that are most specific to that phase of EPC. Palliative care specialists may engage patients in several tasks in one visit and the same task may be undertaken across multiple visits.
EPC, early palliative care.