Effect of Integrated Palliative Care on Outcomes of Patients with Gynecologic Cancer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2026.v17i05.004Abstract
Background: Palliative care nurses typically need to balance symptoms and pain relief. Making the patient as comfortable as possible is the primary responsibility of nurses. Furthermore, they provide essential emotional support to patients and their families, while also educating them on effective symptom-management strategies, including techniques to alleviate anxiety and manage treatment-related side effects. The early involvement of palliative care provides comprehensive care, improving patient outcomes, notably in symptom management, quality of life, and family satisfaction. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the process of integrated palliative care and its effect on the health of patients with gynecologic cancer. Methods: A quasi-experimental (pre–posttest) design was used. The study was conducted on 70 patients with gynecologic cancer at the Women Health Hospital's gynecologic oncology unit at Assiut University. Two tools were used for data collection: a structured interview and the EORTC-C30 questionnaire, which included 30 items assessing health-related quality of life (Global health status / QoL), functioning scale (cancer patients' role, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional), and symptoms scale. Results: A significant increase in the score of the functioning scale, a decrease in the symptom scale score, and better health-related QoL during the follow-up was observed. Conclusion: The health status of gynecological cancer patients improved after providing palliative care. Recommendations: All patients with gynecologic cancer should receive palliative care beginning with their diagnosis.
Keywords:
Gynecologic Oncology;, Palliative Care; , Patients’ OutcomesDownloads
References
Adamidis, F., Baumgartner, N. S., Kitta, A., Kum, L., Ecker, F., Bär, J., Marosi, C., Kreye, G., Fischer, C., Zeilinger, E. L., Paschen, C., Wenzel, C., & Masel, E. K. (2024). Timely integration of palliative care. the reality check. a retrospective analysis. Supportive Care in Cancer: Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 32(8), 518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08721-x
Argyriou, E. (2024). Argyriou, E. (2024). HiTOP-based optimal personalized assignment to abstinence from alcohol: A precision medicine approach. Purdue University Graduate School. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.25394/PGS.26253998.v1
Alnajar, M., Darawad, M., Khater, W., Alshahwan, R., Mosleh, S., Nofal, B., & Abdalrahim, M. (2025). Exploring Palliative Care Needs Among Patients with Cancer and Non-Cancer Serious Chronic Diseases: A Comparison Study. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 42(1), 20–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091241235920
Alsuliman, H. R., Alsaigh, S. A., Habib, F. A., & Alshehery, M. Z. (2024). Exploring the Influence of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Implementation in Palliative Care Patients: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 16(10), e70914. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.70914
Altarawneh, W. M., Masa'deh, R., Hamaideh, S. H., Saleh, A. M., & Alhalaiqa, F. (2023). Nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards palliative care provided to patients diagnosed with cancer. PloS One, 18(10), e0289317. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289317
Asal, M. G. R., Alsenany, S. A., Mohammed, M. S., Elzohairy, N. W., & El-Sayed, A. A. I. (2026). Climate Anxiety and COPD: Unveiling Its Impact on Patients' Quality of Life Through a Multivariate Lens. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 35(1), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17805
Bakitas, M. A., Gazaway, S., Underwood, F., Ekelem, C., Heard, V. T., Kennedy, R., Azuero, A., Tucker, R., McCammon, S., Hauser, J. M., McElwain, L., & Elk, R. (2025). Palliative Video Consultation and Symptom Distress Among Rural Inpatients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 8(7), e2519426. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.19426
Barbu, M. A., Ghigeanu, M., Bahaa-Eddin, S., Michire, A., Hanu, A., Eremia, G., Draganescu, I., Birca, A., & Georgescu, M. T. (2025). Impact of Chemoradiotherapy on Quality of Life in Cervical Cancer Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(17), 6023. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176023
Brenne, A. T., Løhre, E. T., Knudsen, A. K., Lund, J. Å., Thronæs, M., Driller, B., Brunelli, C., & Kaasa, S. (2024). Standardizing Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care Across Service Levels: Challenges in Demonstrating Effects in a Prospective Controlled Intervention Trial. Oncology and Therapy, 12(2), 345–362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40487-024-00278-3
Flanagan, J., & Beck, C. T. (2024). Polit & Beck's Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://shorturl.at/InIv1
Ibrahim, A. M., Zaghamir, D. E. F., Ramadan Abdel-Aziz, H., Elalem, O. M., Al-Yafeai, T. M., Sultan, H. M. S., Sliman, A. M. A., Elsaid, R. A. A., Aboelola, T. H., & Mersal, F. A. (2024). Ethical issues in palliative care: nursing and quality of life. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 854. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02530-7
Lee, J. J., Longcoy, L. H., & Tai, C. Y. (2022). Symptom Distress and Quality of Life in Women with Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Longitudinal Approach. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 26(6), 643–650. https://doi.org/10.1188/22.CJON.643-650
Harris, R. A., Rogers, C. A., Harris, J., & Lim, E. (2025). A scoping review of statistical methods used to report EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life scores measured longitudinally. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 25(1), 188. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-025-02622-1
Kamel, S. H., Ahmed, N. T., Abou-taleb, H. A., & Arief, A. F. (2025). Impact of Palliative Care on Reliving Symptoms among Gynecologic Cancer Patients. Assiut Scientific Nursing Journal, 13(52), 296-304. https://doi.org/10.21608/asnj.2025.387131.2093
Karhausen, L. (2025). Preventive, Therapeutic, and Palliative Care. In Analytical Philosophy of Medicine: Scientific Philosophy and Philosophy of Medicine (pp. 323-358). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81257-6_14
Kang, E., Koh, S. J., Kang, J. H., Kim, Y. J., Seo, S., Kim, J. H., Cheon, J., Kang, E. J., Song, E. K., Nam, E. M., Oh, H. S., Choi, H. J., Kwon, J. H., Bae, W. K., Lee, J. E., Jung, K. H., & Yun, Y. H. (2025). Quality Matters: Effect of High-Quality Early Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 70(6), 638–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.08.031
MacMartin, M., Hahlweg, P., Collison, J., & Noble, S. (2025). Shared decision making in palliative. Oxford Textbook of Shared Decision Making in Healthcare, 256. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198897804.003.0051
Melo, V., Vanegas, G., O'Riordan, D. L., Kuruvilla, P., Pantilat, S. Z., Rabow, M., Chen, L. M., & Bischoff, K. E. (2025). A population health approach to assessing for and addressing palliative care needs in outpatients with advanced gynecologic malignancies. Gynecologic Oncology, 198, 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2025.05.019
Osei, E., McKenna, C. B., Darko, J., McKnight, K., & Peters, C. (2023). Systematic self-reporting of patients’ symptoms: improving oncologic care and patients’ satisfaction. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 22, e55. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1460396922000255
Parkash, V., Aisagbonhi, O., Riddle, N., Siddon, A., Panse, G., & Fadare, O. (2023). Recent Advances in the Classification of Gynecological Tract Tumors: Updates From the 5th Edition of the World Health Organization "Blue Book". Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 147(10), 1204–1216. https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2022-0166-RA
Persenaire, C., Spinosa, D. L., Brubaker, L. W., & Lefkowits, C. J. (2023). Incorporation of Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology. Current Oncology Reports, 25(11), 1295–1305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-023-01457-7
Phillips, J. L., Virdun, C., Vandersman, P., & Marshall, C. (2025). Nursing and Palliative Care. In Textbook of Palliative Care (pp. 585-604). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48991-4_43
Pietras, C., Khoo, T., & Karlin, D. (2026). Updates in palliative care of patients with gynecologic malignancies in 2026: early integration, resource models, and emerging therapies. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 38(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/GCO.0000000000001077
Pointon, S., Collins, A., & Philip, J. (2024). Introducing palliative care in advanced cancer: a systematic review. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, spcare-2023-004442. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2023-004442
Silva Reis, B. F. D., O'Dwyer, G., Lino, V. T. S., de Oliveira, L. C., da Costa Rosa, K. S., & Sampaio, S. G. D. S. M. (2025). Comparison of the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of cancer patients admitted to a tertiary palliative care unit before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Palliative Care, 24(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01663-z
Sułkowska, J., Kuźmicz, I., Kawalec-Kajstura, E., Palmer, S., & Brzostek, T. (2024). Coaching as a method of support for informal and formal caregivers in palliative care. Palliative Medicine in Practice, 18(2), 82-87. https://doi.org/10.5603/pmp.98085
Sutradhar, S., Gupta, S. K., & Sutradhar, P. S. (2026). Analysis of Quality of Life Among Cervical Cancer Patients Following-Chemoradiotherapy in Tripura, India. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care, 11(2), 205-218. https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcc.2026.11.2.205 218
Swarnakar, R., & Yadav, S. L. (2025). Integration of rehabilitation and palliative care in cancer management: A futuristic model. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 13(12), 102326. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v13.i12.102326
Wang, M., & Ding, X. (2025). Integrated palliative care improves the quality of life of advanced cancer patients. BMC Palliative Care, 24(1), 162. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01800-8
Wang, X., Li, L., & Wang, Y. (2025). Mechanisms of Cancer-Induced Bone Pain. Journal of Pain Research, 18, 315–326. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S498466
Xu, X., Xu, J., Xu, G., Lv, T., & Yang, J. (2025). A prospective longitudinal cohort study for quality of life in patients undergoing fourth level liver surgery. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 21035. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05771-x
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
