OP-17 Responding to psychological/spiritual distress experienced by palliative care inpatients at a comprehensive cancer centre

<h3>Background and Objectives</h3> Patients at the end of life often experience psychological and/or spiritual distress. This study explored the involvement of psychosocial and spiritual care teams in the care of palliative care inpatients at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC) in Melbourne, Australia. <h3>Methods</h3> Medical records of palliative care inpatients at PMCC during 2022 were reviewed to extract their demographic and clinical details; Palliative Care Problem Severity Score – Psychological/Spiritual (PCPSS-PS); referral to and contact with Clinical Psychology (CP), Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CL), Social Work (SW) or Spiritual Care (SC) teams. Data analysis utilised descriptive statistics. <h3>Results</h3> Palliative care teams cared for 766 patients (47% female) over 1017 admissions (median age 65 years, IQR 52–75). Death occurred in 42% of admissions. A history of mental illness was documented in 16%, although 27% had been in contact with CP and/or CL teams prior to admission. Psychological/spiritual distress was rated as mild (47%) or moderate (22%) during most admissions. Severe distress was rare (1%). Referrals were made to at least one psychosocial or spiritual care team during most admissions (69%): CP (11%), CL (11%), SW (58%) and/or SC (28%). Contact with at least one psychosocial/spiritual care team occurred during most admissions (85%): CP (8%), CL (12%), SW (56%) and/or SC (75%). <h3>Discussion and Implications</h3> Significant psychological/spiritual distress is uncommon among palliative care inpatients at PMCC. Despite this, contact with at least one psychosocial/spiritual care team occurred during most admissions.