Table 3:
Frequency of Palliative Care Topics Covered in Cardiology Fellowships*
| Never (n, %) | Less than annually (n, %) | Annually (n, %) | Monthly (n, %) | Weekly (n, %) | Don’t Know (n, %) | No Response (n, %) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC Competencies (n=56) | |||||||
| Communication | 10 (18) | 7 (13) | 26 (46) | 4 (7) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 6 (11) |
| Prognostication | 11 (20) | 7 (13) | 23 (41) | 4 (7) | 3 (5) | 2 (4) | 6 (11) |
| Timely referral to specialty PC | 10 (18) | 7 (13) | 21 (38) | 8 (14) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | 6 (11) |
| End-of-life care and hospice referral | 10 (18) | 7 (13) | 20 (36) | 6 (11) | 4 (7) | 3 (5) | 6 (11) |
| Caregiver support and bereavement | 10 (18) | 10 (18) | 19 (34) | 3 (5) | 3 (5) | 5 (9) | 6 (11) |
| Ethical and legal concerns | 9 (16) | 10 (18) | 23 (41) | 5 (9) | 1 (2) | 2 (4) | 6 (11) |
| Cultural sensitivity, social determinants, LGBTQ concerns at end-of-life | 11 (20) | 9 (16) | 22 (39) | 3 (5) | 1 (2) | 4 (7) | 6 (11) |
| Provider self-care and wellness | 6 (11) | 8 (14) | 27 (48) | 3 (5) | 2 (4) | 4 (7) | 6 (11) |
| Complex symptom management (n=56) | |||||||
| Pain | 13 (23) | 13 (23) | 16 (29) | 4 (7) | 1 (2) | 3 (5) | 6 (11) |
| Shortness of breath | 8 (14) | 8 (14) | 14 (25) | 10 (18) | 7 (13) | 3 (5) | 6 (11) |
| Existential or spiritual distress | 18 (32) | 12 (21) | 11 (20) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 6 (11) | 6 (11) |
| Cachexia, fatigue, exercise intolerance | 13 (23) | 14 (25) | 14 (25) | 3 (5) | 2 (4) | 4 (7) | 6 (11) |
| Anxiety, depression | 9 (16) | 11 (20) | 23 (41) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 4 (7) | 6 (11) |
| High-Risk Procedures (n=56) | |||||||
| Shared decision making | 2 (4) | 5 (9) | 18 (32) | 18 (32) | 5 (9) | 2 (4) | 6 (11) |
| Deactivation or withdrawal of devices | 6 (11) | 7 (13) | 27 (48) | 6 (11) | 0 (0) | 4 (7) | 6 (11) |
| Lifespan Concerns (n=56) | |||||||
| Palliative Care for Adult Congenital Heart Disease | 5 (9) | 9 (16) | 23 (41) | 7 (13) | 3 (5) | 3 (5) | 6 (11) |
| Geriatric Syndromes | |||||||
| Multimorbidity | 15 (27) | 9 (16) | 16 (29) | 4 (7) | 1 (2) | 5 (9) | 6 (11) |
| Frailty, falls, mobility | 14 (25) | 10 (18) | 18 (32) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 5 (9) | 6 (11) |
| Cognitive impairment | 14 (25) | 13 (23) | 16 (29) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 4 (8) | 6 (11) |
| Polypharmacy | 15 (27) | 9 (16) | 17 (30) | 1 (2) | 4 (7) | 4 (8) | 6 (11) |
| Family Support | 12 (21) | 12 (21) | 17 (30) | 3 (5) | 2 (4) | 4 (8) | 6 (11) |