The "Early Integration of Palliative Care in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation" project (PaCES-Heme) is a three-year study (2019-2022) being conducted in three phases:

Phase I: Quantitative study to better understand the landscape of existing palliative care processes for patients with blood cancers:

• secondary data analysis of a survey of oncology clinicians across Alberta regarding their perceptions on the early integration of palliative care in oncology, with a focus on hematology oncology clinicians
• secondary data analysis to look at patterns of referral of patients with blood cancers to palliative care & hospice

Phase II: Qualitative study to:

• better characterize the palliative care needs of patients undergoing blood cell or bone marrow transplantation and their caregivers; interviews with patients, caregivers, clinicians will be conducted
• better understand hematology oncology clinicians' perspectives on the integration of palliative care into cancer care

Phase III: Pragmatic randomized clinical trial to examine the impact of early integration of palliative care for patients undergoing blood cell or bone marrow transplantation and their caregivers (target start date: Summer 2021). Outcomes that will be examined:

• patient outcomes (symptoms, quality of life, prognostic understanding, mood)
• caregiver outcomes (mood, quality of life, prognostic understanding)