Early palliative care – a review of qualification tools, clinical outcomes, and organizational models

In recent decades, the number of cancer patients has been increasing, which in turn raises the demand for palliative care as an integral part of oncological treatment. Early palliative care (EPC) is defined as the introduction of comprehensive support, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects, beginning at the time of diagnosis of advanced cancer and provided alongside curative treatment. The qualification criteria include factors such as performance status, symptom burden, and disease progression, which are reflected in commonly used screening tools such as the ESAS, DART, and STEP questionnaires. Clinical studies indicate that EPC can improve quality of life, reduce symptoms of depression and pain, and extend survival, although results may vary depending on the individual patient profile and the scope of the intervention. Organizational models of early palliative care include interdisciplinary consultations, therapeutic sessions, home visits, and the use of telemedicine. For EPC to be effectively implemented and further developed, it is advisable to conduct additional high-quality research and, in the longer term, to formulate recommendations on the organization of care that can be adapted to the specific contexts of individual health-care systems.