Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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A specialist palliative care team (SPCT) for the care of terminal cancer patients was established at Forli in 1986. Over the years, its staff and the patients cared for have been increasing in numbers up to the present levels of importance. For 12 years the service was supplied by a private institution, Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo (IOR). ⋯ A plan is being realized to establish a palliative care unit (PCU) within the city hospital. The group has also been engaged in research for many years, giving special attention both to prognostic factors in very advanced cancer patients and to the organization and evaluation of the service costs. Moreover, two training courses in palliative care are organized biennially, one for all health workers in the region and one for volunteers co-operating with the medical teams.