• Ahsan Azhar, Angelique N Wong, Agustina A Cerana, Vishidha R Balankari, Madhuri Adabala, Diane D Liu, Janet L Williams, and Eduardo Bruera.
• Department of Palliative Care, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2018 May 1; 55 (5): 1327-1334.

ContextThere is limited literature regarding outpatient palliative care and factors associated with unscheduled clinic visits.ObjectivesTo compare characteristics of patients with unscheduled vs. scheduled outpatient palliative care clinic visits.MethodsMedical records of 183 unscheduled cancer new outpatients and 104 unscheduled follow-up (FU) patients were compared with random samples of 361 and 314 scheduled new patients and FU patients, respectively. We gathered data on demographics, symptoms, daily opioid usage, and performance status.ResultsCompared with scheduled new patients, unscheduled new patients had worse Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale subscores for pain (P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.002), nausea (P = 0.016), depression (P = 0.003), anxiety (P = 0.038), drowsiness (P = 0.002), sleep (P < 0.001), and overall feeling of well-being (P = 0.001); had a higher morphine equivalent daily dose of opioids (median of 45 mg for unscheduled vs. 30 mg for scheduled; P < 0.001); and were more likely to be from outside the greater Houston area (P < 0.001). Most unscheduled and scheduled new and FU visits were for uncontrolled physical symptoms. Unscheduled FU patients, compared with scheduled FU patients, had worse Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale subscores for pain (P < 0.001), fatigue (P < 0.001), depression (P = 0.002), anxiety (P = 0.004), drowsiness (P = 0.010), appetite (P = 0.023), sleep (P = 0.022), overall feeling of well-being (P < 0.001), and higher morphine equivalent daily dose of opioid (median of 58 mg for unscheduled FU visits vs. 40 mg for scheduled FU visits; P = 0.054).ConclusionUnscheduled new FU patients have higher levels of physical and psychosocial distress and higher opioid intake. Outpatient palliative care centers should consider providing opportunities for walk-in visits for timely management and close monitoring of such patients.Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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