Caught in the middle: Tensions around the emergency department care of people with advanced cancer

Abstract

Background: People with advanced cancer frequently present to hospital EDs. International studies report conflicting attitudes towards providing such care and difficulties with communication. The experience of Australian clinicians, however, is not described. Objective: The present study aims to identify issues important to emergency, palliative care (PC) and oncology clinical staff in managing people with advanced cancer presenting to EDs. Methods: We qualitatively explored views of Australian clinicians working in emergency medicine, PC and oncology, via focus groups at two major hospitals and two community PC services in Melbourne, Victoria, and emergency clinicians from all other Austral..