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104 Background: Early palliative care (PC) improves outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in patients identified by clinicians as having poor prognosis, advanced cancer. We evaluated the impact of early, integrated palliative and oncology care in patients with newly diagnosed lung and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: Between 5/2/11 and 7/20/15, we randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed incurable lung (NSCLC, small cell, mesothelioma) or GI (pancreas, hepatobiliary, gastric, esophageal) cancer to PC integrated with oncology care (monthly visits with PC) or usual oncology care. We used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) to assess quality of life (QOL) and the Patient Health Questionniare-9 (PHQ-9) for mood at baseline, weeks 12 and 24. We also assessed patients’ coping styles (Brief COPE), perceptions of likelihood of cure and communication about end-of-life (EOL) preferences. To evaluate intervention effects on patient-reported outcomes, we performed chi square tests and linear regression, controlling for baseline values and clinical factors. Results: We randomized 350 patients (175 per group), including 191 lung and 159 GI cancer patients. Patients assigned to early PC had higher QOL (B = 5.36, 95% CI: 2.04 to 8.69, p = 0.002) and less depression on the PHQ-9 (B = -1.17, 95% CI: -2.33 to -0.01, p = 0.048) at 24 weeks, but not at 12 weeks. Also at 24 weeks, the intervention group was significantly more likely to report using active and engaged coping styles compared to the usual care group (B = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.96, p = 0.013). Similar proportions of patients at 24 weeks reported that their cancer was unlikely to be cured (36/105 [33.6%] in PC and 43/115 [37.4%] in usual care) but more patients assigned to early PC reported they discussed their EOL preferences (35/116 [30.2%] versus 17/117 [14.5%], p = 0.004). Change in QOL over time differed between the lung and GI cancer cohorts. Conclusions: Early PC improved QOL, mood, coping, and the frequency of EOL discussions in patients with newly diagnosed lung and GI cancer. The benefits of the integrated care model extend to other populations with advanced disease and include improved communication about EOL care. Clinical trial information: NCT01401907.

234 Background: Patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancers who receive early palliative care (PC) integrated with oncology care report improvement in their quality of life (QOL) and mood. While a telephone-based psycho-educational intervention for FC decrease depression, the impact of early, integrated outpatient PC models on FC outcomes remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a randomized trial of early PC integrated with oncology care versus oncology care alone for newly diagnosed patients with incurable lung and gastrointestinal cancers and their FC. Eligible FC were relatives or friends who would likely accompany the patient to clinic visits. FC were eligible to enroll up to 4 weeks after patient enrollment. The intervention entailed at least monthly patient visits with PC from the time of enrollment. FC were not required to attend these visits. We used the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey Short Form-36 to examine QOL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to examine mood at baseline, weeks 12 and 24. We used the two-sample t-test to examine changes in QOL and mood from baseline to week 12 and week 24. Results: We enrolled 350 patients and 275 (78.6%) of potentially eligible FC (control n = 138, intervention n = 137) between 5/2/2011 to 7/20/2015. FC outcomes missing data rate at 12 and 24 weeks were 16.8% and 33.8% respectively. At 12 weeks, FC of patients receiving early PC reported higher vitality (1.1 vs. -3.2, p = 0.05) and social functioning (-3.0 vs. -3.8, p = 0.02), and lower depression symptoms (-0.45 vs. 0.24, p = 0.03) compared to FC of patients assigned to usual care. At 24 weeks, FC of patients assigned to early PC had lower depression symptoms (-0.37 vs. 0.28, p = 0.05), but no differences in vitality or social functioning compared to those receiving usual care. No differences in other SF-36 subscales or anxiety were noted at 12 and 24 weeks. Conclusions: Early involvement of PC for patients with newly diagnosed lung and gastrointestinal cancers leads to improvements in FC depression and aspects of QOL. This work demonstrates that the benefits of early, integrated palliative care models in oncology care extend beyond patient outcomes and positively impact the experience of FC. Clinical trial information: NCT01401907.

10003Background: Early palliative care (PC) improves outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in patients identified by clinicians as having poor prognosis, advanced cancer. We evaluated the impact of early, integrated palliative and oncology care in patients with newly diagnosed lung and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: We randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed incurable lung (NSCLC, small cell, mesothelioma) or GI (pancreas, hepatobiliary, gastric, esophageal) cancer to PC integrated with oncology care (at least monthly visits with PC) or usual oncology care. We used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) to assess quality of life (QOL) and the Patient Health Questionniare-9 (PHQ-9) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for mood at baseline, weeks 12 and 24. We assessed patients’ perception of their likelihood of cure and their communication about their end of life (EOL) preferences. WΒe used linear regres...

10131Background: Patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancers who receive early palliative care (PC) integrated with oncology care report improvement in their quality of life (QOL) and mood. Whil...

269 Background: Hospital readmission rate is increasingly suggested as a quality care metric. Currently there are no standard criteria for an avoidable readmission in oncology. Although patients with cancer have been identified as being at increased risk of readmission, there has been little to examine the reasons for the oncology patient readmission. The aim was to examine the profiles of patients with an unplanned readmission within 30 days after discharge by an oncology provider and to measure the unplanned 30-day readmission rate. Methods: A retrospective review of oncology provider discharge encounters resulting in a 30-day unplanned readmission during the 2012 calendar year at a tertiary hospital with a comprehensive cancer center was conducted. Planned readmissions for chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, dialysis, and surgical procedures, as well as readmissions for rehabilitation, hospice, and psychiatry were excluded. Medical oncologists analyzed medical records for the primary reason of readmission and if the readmission was possibly preventable. Results: Of the 2,944 admissions, a final cohort of 441 unplanned readmissions from 321 unique patients for an unplanned 30-day readmission rate of 14.9% was observed. The average age at admission was 59 (SD 15.9). The cohort was mostly male (56.9%) and White/Caucasian (84.4%). Gastrointestinal (24.0%), lymphoma (18.6%), and leukemia (17.5%) were the most common cancer types. Of those with solid tumors types (n = 225), approximately 70% had metastatic disease. The median time to readmission was 10 days and 10.7% died within 30 days of readmission. Oncology reviewers most commonly assessed that readmission was primarily due to treatment-related effects (46.7%) and the progression of disease (42.2%). Approximately 20% of 30-day readmissions were determined to be possibly preventable, representing 3% of all admissions for the year. Conclusions: Oncology patients readmitted within 30-days frequently present with complicated, advanced disease. A review by medical oncologists suggests there is margin for intervention to reduce 30-day unplanned admissions.

215 Background: Patients undergoinghematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) experience a steep deterioration in quality of life (QOL) and mood during hospitalization for HCT. The impact of this deterioration on patients’ long-term QOL and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of patients hospitalized for HCT. At baseline (day-6), day+1, day+8, and 6 months post-HCT, we assessed QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation [FACT-BMT]) and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). We used the PTSD Checklist to assess for PTSD symptoms at 6 months. We used multivariable linear regression models to identify predictors of QOL and PTSD symptoms at 6 months post-HCT. Results: We enrolled 97% (90/93) of consecutively eligible patients undergoing autologous (n = 30), myeloablative allogeneic (n = 30), or reduced intensity allogeneic (n = 30) HCT. Overall, patients’ QOL at 6 months (mean FACT-BMT: 110, 95%CI [104-116]) recovered to baseline pre-transplant values (mean FACT-BMT: 110, 95% CI [107-115]). At 6 months, 28.4% of participants met provisional diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 43.3% had clinically significant depression. In multivariable regression analyses adjusting for baseline QOL, mood, other covariates, change in QOL and depression scores during hospitalization for HCT predicted impaired QOL (DQOL β = 1.13, P < 0.0001, D HADS-depression β = 2.51, P = 0.001) and PTSD symptoms (DQOL β = 0.50, P < 0.0001, DHADS-depression β = 1.22, P < 0.0001) at 6 months post-HCT. Conclusions: While patients’ overall QOL at 6 months post-HCT returned to baseline values, a significant proportion met provisional diagnostic criteria for PTSD and depression. The decline in QOL and increase in depressive symptoms during hospitalization for HCT were the most important predictors of long-term QOL impairment and PTSD symptoms. Future studies should evaluate whether interventions to improve QOL and reduce psychological distress during HCT may improve long-term QOL and reduce the risk of PTSD symptoms.

62 Background: Treatment decisions are often based on performance status (PS), a subjective rating of patient functioning derived from observation and patient-report. Devices that monitor physical activity, such as wrist actigraphs, can accurately measure the percent of time a person is immobile while awake (awake immobile). Thus, actigraphy may have potential to better estimate true PS. We compared actigraphy to both Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS (ECOG PS) and patient-reported physical activity as predictors of survival in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Participants (n = 41) were ambulatory patients with stage IV NSCLC receiving care at MGH. Participants wore a watch-sized accelerometer device (ACTIWATCH 2) for three consecutive 24-hour periods (72 hours) and completed a self-report questionnaire about physical activity, scored as METS (metabolic equivalents) per week. Patients’ oncologists rated their ECOG PS (0-5) at the end of the 72-hour actigraphy period. Relationships among ECOG PS, awake immobile, and METs per week were tested with Pearson correlations. A ROC curve for 6-month survival was used to determine a meaningful cut-off for awake immobile. Unadjusted Cox regression models tested associations with survival from assessment times. Results: Participants’ ECOG PS ratings were: 0 (22%), 1 (63%), 2 (12%), and 3 (2%). ECOG PS and awake immobile were correlated (r = .42, p < .01). METS per week was correlated only with ECOG PS (r = -.35, p = .03). At time of analysis, 15 patients had died with a minimum follow up of 9 months. Among all patients, survival was predicted by ECOG PS, HR = 3.77 (95% CI 1.70-8.35), p < .01; awake immobile as both as a continuous (percentage points) and categorical ( > 23%) variable, HR = 1.04 (95% CI 1.00-1.09), p = .05 and HR = 4.12 (95% CI 1.37-12.39), p = .01, respectively; but not METS per week. Among patients with good EGOC PS (0-1), only awake immobile ( > 23%) predicted survival, HR = 5.80 (95% CI 1.39-24.12), p = .02. Moreover, within the largest ECOG group (PS1), awake immobile ( > 23%) still predicted survival, HR = 5.53 (95% CI 1.18-25.94), p = .03. Conclusions: Actigraphy, an objective measure of patient activity, may have utility in determining patient PS.

76 Background: Patients’ prognostic understanding and coping styles influence their treatment decisions, but how these factors relate to their quality of life (QOL) and mood has not been well described. We sought to examine the associations of patients’ prognostic understanding and coping style with their QOL and mood. Methods: As part of an ongoing trial of early palliative care, we are assessing baseline QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), coping (Brief Cope) and prognostic understanding in patients within 8 weeks of diagnosis of advanced lung or gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. To determine associations, we used linear and logistic regression, controlling for patients’ age, sex, cancer type and marital status. Results: Of 300 participants (mean age = 64.7 years; 138 (46%) female), 132 (44%) had GI cancer and 168 (56%) had lung cancer. Using cutoff score > 7 for the HADS, 61 (20%) and 85 (28%) reported depression and anxiety. 138 (49%) reported their prognosis as terminal. A terminal perception of prognosis was associated with lower QOL and higher rates of anxiety. Emotional support, acceptance, and active coping styles were associated with better QOL and mood. Denial and self blame were associated with worse QOL and mood. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that acknowledging a terminal prognosis may be associated with greater physical and psychological distress, or conversely, patients with worse QOL and mood may better appreciate the gravity of their illness. Certain coping styles (self blame and denial) are associated with lower QOL and higher distress. Understanding the relationships among patients’ prognostic awareness, coping styles, QOL and mood will allow us to develop more effective supportive care interventions. Clinical trial information: NCT01401907. [Table: see text]

9557 Background: Patients undergoinghematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) experience a steep deterioration in quality of life (QOL) and mood during hospitalization for HCT. The impact of this deterioration on patients’ long-term QOL and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of patients hospitalized for HCT. At baseline (day-6), day+1, day+8, and 6 months post-HCT, we assessed QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation [FACT-BMT]) and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). We used the PTSD Checklist to assess for PTSD symptoms at 6 months. We used multivariable linear regression models to identify predictors of QOL and PTSD symptoms at 6 months post-HCT. Results: We enrolled 97% (90/93) of consecutively eligible patients undergoing autologous (n = 30), myeloablative allogeneic (n = 30), or reduced intensity allogeneic (n = 30) HCT. Overall, patients’ QOL at 6 months (mean FACT-BMT...

224 Background: Despite the important role family caregivers (CGs) play in the care of patients with cancer, little is known about their psychological distress. We sought to describe rates and correlates of depression and anxiety in CGs of patients with advanced cancer to determine those at greatest risk for psychological distress. Methods: As part of an ongoing trial of early palliative care, we are assessing baseline depression and anxiety in patients within 8 weeks of advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis and their CGs. We are administering the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with subscale scores >7 denoting clinically significant depression or anxiety. We are assessing patient coping styles with the Brief COPE. We used multiple logistic regression with purposeful selection of covariates to identify correlates of CG depression and anxiety. Results: Of 240 CGs (mean age=57 years), 156 (65%) were spouses/partners, 167 (70%) were female, and 131 (55%) were working. 37 (15%) and 102 (43%) CGs reported significant depression and anxiety, respectively. CG age, gender and employment status, as well as patients’ anxiety and lack of acceptance coping were associated with higher rates of CG depression. CG age, gender, marital status and education level, as well as patients’ anxiety and presence of brain metastases were associated with higher rates of CG anxiety. Conclusions: Younger, female CGs were at greatest risk of both depression and anxiety. Thus, this CG population should be monitored closely and referred for cancer center support services for distress management. We also found that patients’ anxiety was associated with higher rates of both CG depression and anxiety, underscoring the importance of interventions that address both patient and CG psychological distress. Clinical trial information: NCT01401907. [Table: see text]

160 Background: While the long-term outcomes of HCT survivors have been described, the acute impact of hospitalization for HCT on patients’ and FC QOL and mood has received little attention. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study of patients (and FC) hospitalized for HCT. At baseline (6 days pre-HCT), day+1, and day+8 of HCT, we assessed QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation FACT-BMT), fatigue (FACT-Fatigue), and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS). We used the SF-36 to examine FC QOL [physical component scale (PCS), and mental component scale (MCS)]. Using multivariable linear mixed models, we examined predictors of QOL changes during hospitalization. Results: We enrolled 97% of consecutively eligible patients undergoing autologous (n=30), myeloablative (n=30) or reduced intensity (n=30) allogeneic HCT. Patients’ QOL markedly declined and fatigue increased throughout hospitalization (Table). The proportion of patients meeting criteria for depression (HADS-D > 7) more than doubled from baseline to day+8 (15.6% to 37.8%, P < 0.0001) whereas the proportion of patients with anxiety remained stable (22.2%, P = 0.8). Depression (β= -2.24, F=42.2, p < 0.0001) and anxiety (β= -0.63, F=4.4, p = 0.03) at baseline independently predict worse QOL throughout hospitalization. The FC QOL declined during patient’s hospitalization (PCS: 83.1 to 79.6, P= 0.03, MCS: 71.6 to 67.4, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Patients undergoing HCT reported a rapid and steep deterioration in QOL along with substantially worse fatigue and depression during hospitalization. Greater decrements in QOL were predicted by depression and anxiety highlighting the importance of assessing pre-HCT psychiatric morbidity. [Table: see text]

219 Background: In advanced cancers, patients’ prognostic perceptions influence their medical decisions. However, little is known about how patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing HCT and their family caregivers (FC) understand their prognosis. We examined prognostic perception in these patients during hospitalization for HCT and its relationship with QOL and mood. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study of patients (and FC) hospitalized for HCT. At baseline (6 days pre-HCT), we used a 10-item questionnaire to measure patients’ and FC information preferences, and perception of prognosis. Using 2-items, we also asked oncologists regarding the patients’ prognosis. At day-6, day+1, day+8 of HCT, we assessed QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation FACT-BMT), and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). We examined the relationship between patients’ prognostic perception and their QOL and mood during hospitalization for HCT using multivariable linear mixed models. Results: We enrolled 97% of consecutively eligible patients undergoing autologous (n=30), myeloablative (n=30) or reduced intensity (n=30) allogeneic HCT. Most patients (80/90, 88.9%) and FC (41/47, 87.1%) believed that it is ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important to know about prognosis. However, the majority of patients (66/85, 77.6%) and FC (33/46, 71.7%) reported an inaccurate and more optimistic perception of the patients’ prognosis compared to the oncologist (P < 0.0001). Patients with accurate prognostic understanding reported lower QOL (P = 0.03) and worse depressive symptoms (P = 0.04) with a steeper increase in depression (P = 0.006) over time compared to patients with an inaccurate optimistic prognostic perception. Conclusions: The majority of patients and FC reported inaccurate and more optimistic perception of prognosis compared with the oncologist. Patients with an accurate perception of their prognosis had lower QOL, higher depression, and a steeper increase in depression during hospitalization for HCT. Interventions are needed to improve prognostic understanding while providing adequate psychosocial support during HCT.

9642 Background: During HSCT, patients endure significant side effects in the hopes of curing their disease. While many studies have focused on the long-term outcomes of HSCT recipients, the acute ...