Does early referral to an allied health professional improve the quality of life of people diagnosed with brain cancer?

Early allied health referral for patients diagnosed with High Grade Glioma (HGG) Patients will be referred for early allied health intervention by the treating oncology team (nursing or medical staff) within 6-8 weeks of their first oncology appointment. Patients, with or without a carer, aged 18 years or older diagnosed with HGG (including Grade III anaplastic, astrocytomas, Grade IV oligodendrogliomas and glioblastoma]) within the past three months will be eligible for the early service. Within two weeks of receipt of referral a senior occupational therapist or senior social worker will make initial contact with patients or carers, either in the outpatient oncology clinic (if they are present) or via phone to schedule an initial therapy appointment. This appointment will take place in either outpatient cancer clinic, inpatient hospital ward, phone consultation or patient’s home. Patients needs will be determined and subsequent appointments will be made dependent on their needs. Both initial and subsequent appointments will either be face to face or via virtual care and will vary in length from 30-90 minutes. Data collection will occur over a six-month period however therapy treatment will continue after this time dependent on the patient’s needs. The allied health service aims to improve symptoms, maximising functional independence and participation by using a holistic biopsychosocial model (covering physical and psychosocial aspects) of care, as defined by The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Standard interventions that are provided by the occupational therapist and social worker in the oncology service include provision of equipment, assessment and referral for home services, NDIS application support, case coordination and patient and carer education. Patient’s performance will be measured with the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale and function will be measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), pre and post intervention. Patients and carers will also complete: • The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and the EORTC brain cancer module (EORTC QLQ-BN20) will be used to measure patients’ perception of their QOL and symptom burden. • Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) questionnaire will evaluate caregiver’s well-being and QOL. The patient and carer questionnaire will be completed pre and post intervention i.e. on recruitment and then after 6-months. These questionnaires will be completed during clinic appointments or over the phone if necessary.