Factors Influencing Palliative Care Referral for Adults Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Year: 2026
Type: study-registration
Abstract: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complex and intensive treatment associated with substantial physical, psychological, and supportive care needs throughout the transplant trajectory. Palliative care can address many of these needs and has shown benefits for patients undergoing HSCT, including reduced symptom burden and improved quality of life. Despite these benefits, palliative care remains underutilized and is often introduced late in the illness trajectory. Decisions regarding palliative care referral in HSCT are complex and may be influenced by clinical, provider, patient/family, and healthcare system factors. Existing research has examined barriers to palliative care integration, but less is known about the factors that influence palliative care referral within the HSCT population. This scoping review aims to identify and characterize factors that influence palliative care referral for adults undergoing HSCT and examine whether these factors differ across hematologic malignancies, transplant types, and care settings. The review is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of what is currently known about palliative care referral in HSCT, identify gaps in the literature, and inform future efforts to support timely and consistent palliative care referral.
Source: Open Science Framework
Authors: Jyotti Vyas, Carolyn Harris
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7208794141