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Huang HW, Liu CY, Tung TH, Liu LN. Effects of hospice-shared care on terminal cancer patients in Taiwan: A hospital-based observational study. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2024; 69:102525. [PMID: 38340644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess how hospice-shared care (HSC) affected the likelihood of aggressive medical treatments and the life quality among terminal cancer patients. METHODS In the first part, a cohort of 160 late-stage cancer patients who died in non-hospice wards were identified to review their charts in their last 22 days before death. In the second part, a total of 19 late-stage cancer patients with clear consciousness admitted to non-hospice wards were identified to investigate their quality of life for the final 2 weeks before death. RESULTS The utilization rate of HSC was 55.6%. Among these, the rate for late referral to HSC (≤7 days before death) was 43.8% and early referral (>3 months before death) was 5.6%. Compared to the non-HSC group, in the last few weeks of life, the HSC group underwent lower incidence of chemotherapy use (10.1% vs. 39.4%, p < .001), signed do-not-resuscitate orders (0% vs. 21.1%, p < .001), emergency room visits (13.5% vs. 40.8%, p < .001), intensive care unit admission or ventilator use (2.2% vs. 11.3%, p = .019), and endotracheal intubation (2.2% vs. 9.9%, p = .038). However, the quality of life did not appear to have obvious differences between the two groups (p > .05). CONCLUSION In Taiwan, late HSC referral in terminal cancer patients is common. HSC is associated with a reduced likelihood of aggressive medical utilization. However, the effect of HSC in improving patients' quality of life in the last few weeks needs to be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Wen Huang
- Nursing Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Liu
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tao-Hsin Tung
- Evidence-based Medicine Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Ni Liu
- Department of Nursing, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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Haltia O, Vesinurm M, Leskelä RL, Rahko E, Tyynelä-Korhonen K, Lehto JT, Saarto T, Akrén OM. The effect of palliative outpatient units on resource use for cancer patients in Finland. Acta Oncol 2023; 62:1118-1123. [PMID: 37535611 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2023.2241988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As cancer incidences are increasing, the means to provide effective palliative care (PC) are called for. There is evidence, that PC may prevent futile treatment at the end of life (EOL) thus implicating that PC decreases resource use at the EOL, however, the effects of outpatient PC units remain largely unknown. We surveyed the national use of Finnish tertiary care PC units and their effects on resource use at the EOL in real-life environments. PATIENTS AND METHODS Cancer patients treated in the departments of Oncology at all five Finnish university hospitals in 2013 and deceased by 31 December 2014 were identified; of the 6010 patients 2007 were randomly selected for the study cohort. The oncologic therapies received and the resource usage of emergency services and hospital wards were collected from the hospitals' medical records. RESULTS A PC unit was visited by 37% of the patients a median 112 days before death. A decision to terminate all life-prolonging cancer treatments was more often made for patients visiting the PC unit (90% vs. 66%, respectively). A visit to a PC unit was associated with significantly fewer visits to emergency departments (ED) and hospitalization during the last 90 days of life; the mean difference in ED visits decreased by 0.48 (SD 0.33 - 0.62, p < 0.001), and the mean inpatient days by 7.1 (SD 5.93 - 8.25, p < 0.001). A PC visit unit was independently associated with decreased acute hospital resource use during the last 30 and 90 days before death in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION Cancer patients' contact with a PC unit was significantly associated with the reduced use of acute hospital services at the EOL, however; only one-third of the patients visited a PC unit. Thus, systematic PC unit referral practices for patients with advanced cancer are called for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Haltia
- Helsinki Health Care Center; Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Märt Vesinurm
- Nordic Healthcare group, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Management (HEMA), Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | | | - Eeva Rahko
- Cancer Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Juho T Lehto
- Palliative Care Centre, Department of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Tiina Saarto
- Department of Palliative Care, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, and Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi M Akrén
- Palliative Center, Turku University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Turku University, Turku, Finland
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Pihlaja H, Rantala H, Leivo-Korpela S, Lehtimäki L, Lehto JT, Piili RP. Specialist Palliative Care Consultation for Patients with Nonmalignant Pulmonary Diseases: A Retrospective Study. Palliat Med Rep 2023; 4:108-115. [PMID: 37095866 PMCID: PMC10122226 DOI: 10.1089/pmr.2022.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Few patients with chronic nonmalignant pulmonary diseases receive specialist palliative care consultation, despite their high symptom burden in end of life. Objectives To study palliative care decision making, survival, and hospital resource usage in patients with nonmalignant pulmonary diseases with or without a specialist palliative care consultation. Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients with a chronic nonmalignant pulmonary disease and a palliative care decision (palliative goal of therapy), who were treated in Tampere University Hospital, Finland, between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. Results A total of 107 patients were included in the study, 62 (58%) had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 43 (40%) interstitial lung disease (ILD). Median survival after palliative care decision was shorter in patients with ILD than in patients with COPD (59 vs. 213 days, p = 0.004). Involvement of a palliative care specialist in the decision making was not associated with the survival. Patients with COPD who received palliative care consultation visited less often emergency room (73% vs. 100%, p = 0.019) and spent fewer days in the hospital (7 vs. 18 days, p = 0.007) during the last year of life. When a palliative care specialist attended the decision making, the presence and opinions of the patients were recorded more often, and the patients were more frequently referred to a palliative care pathway. Conclusions Specialist palliative care consultation seems to enable better end-of-life care and supports shared decision making for patients with nonmalignant pulmonary diseases. Therefore, palliative care consultations should be utilized in nonmalignant pulmonary diseases preferably before the last days of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Pihlaja
- TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Palliative Care Centre, Department of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- Address correspondence to: Hanna Pihlaja, MD, TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Kauppi Campus, Arvo Building, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33520, Finland.
| | - Heidi Rantala
- TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sirpa Leivo-Korpela
- TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Palliative Care Centre and Department of Geriatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Lauri Lehtimäki
- TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Juho T. Lehto
- TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Palliative Care Centre, Department of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Reetta P. Piili
- TUNI Palliative Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Palliative Care Centre, Department of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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Ullgren H, Sharp L, Fransson P, Bergkvist K. Exploring Health Care Professionals' Perceptions Regarding Shared Clinical Decision-Making in Both Acute and Palliative Cancer Care. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16134. [PMID: 36498204 PMCID: PMC9737093 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Developments in cancer care have resulted in improved survival and quality of life. Integration of acute and palliative cancer care is desirable, but not always achieved. Fragmented care is associated with sub-optimal communication and collaboration, resulting in unnecessary care transitions. The aim of this study was to explore how health care professionals, from both acute and palliative care, perceive clinical decision-making when caring for patients undergoing active cancer treatment in parallel with specialized palliative care at home. METHODS Qualitative explorative design, using online focus-group interviews, based on patient-cases, among health care professionals (physicians and nurses) and Framework Analysis. RESULTS Six online focus-group interviews were performed. Few signs of systematic integration were found, risking fragmented care, and putting the patients in a vulnerable situation. Different aspects of uncertainty related to mandates and goals-of-care impacted clinical decision-making. Organizational factors appeared to hinder mutual clinical decision-making as well as the uncertainty related to responsibilities. These uncertainties seemed to be a barrier to timely end-of-life conversations and clinical decisions on optimal care, for example, the appropriateness of transfer to acute care. CONCLUSIONS Lack of integration between acute and palliative care have negative consequences for patients (fragmented care), health care professionals (ethical stress), and the health care system (inadequate use of resources).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ullgren
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- ME Head & Neck, Lung & Skin Cancer, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Sharp
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- Regional Cancer Center, 104 25 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Fransson
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Karin Bergkvist
- Department of Nursing Science, Sophiahemmet University, 114 86 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Kitti PM, Anttonen AM, Leskelä RL, Saarto T. End-of-life care of patients with esophageal or gastric cancer: decision making and the goal of care. Acta Oncol 2022; 61:1173-1178. [PMID: 36005550 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2022.2114379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overall survival (OS) with advanced esophageal or gastric cancer is poor. To avoid overly aggressive treatments at the end-of-life and assure adequate end-of-life quality, the decision to focus on symptom-centered palliative care (PC) and terminate anticancer treatments, i.e., the PC decision, should be made in time. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed the charts of patients (N = 160) with esophageal or gastric cancer treated at the Department of Oncology at Helsinki University Central Hospital in 2013 and deceased by December 2014. The use of acute services (Emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations) and places of death were compared according to the timing of the PC decision. Reasons for ED visits and hospitalizations were collected. RESULTS The median OS from diagnosis of advanced cancer was 6 months. Anti-cancer treatments were never started for 34% of the patients. The PC decision was made early (>30 days before death) for 54% of the patients and late (≤30 days before death) or not at all for 46%. Patients with late or no PC decision died more often in tertiary/secondary hospital (29 versus 7%, p = 0.001) and had more ED visits (49 versus 29%, p < 0.001) and hospitalizations (53 versus 28%, p = 0.001) in their last month, and visited the PC unit less often (18 versus 69%, p < 0.001), than the patients with early PC decision. The ED visits were most commonly related to cancer progression, and clinical deterioration (17%), fever (16%), and dysphagia (15%) were the most common symptoms. CONCLUSION The decision to focus on PC and terminate anticancer treatments, i.e., the PC decision, was made late or not at all in every other patient, leading to increased tertiary/secondary hospital service use and deaths at tertiary/secondary hospital. Early decision-making increased end-of-life care at specialized PC services or at home, implying better end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauliina M Kitti
- Department of Oncology, HUS Comprehensive Cancer Centre and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu M Anttonen
- Department of Oncology, HUS Comprehensive Cancer Centre and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Tiina Saarto
- Department of Oncology, HUS Comprehensive Cancer Centre and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Tolppanen AM, Lamminmäki A, Länsimies H, Kataja V, Tyynelä-Korhonen K. Trends in end-of-life decisions among patients dying in a university hospital oncology ward after implantation of a palliative outpatient clinic. Acta Oncol 2022; 61:881-887. [PMID: 35467470 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2022.2063068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The need for high quality palliative care at end-of-life has been increasingly recognized while regional differences exist in its quality and availability. Basic palliative care is given by oncologists at any stage of the disease, but this does not cover the high need for specialized palliative care. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in end-of-life decisions among patients dying in a university hospital oncology ward before and after the implementation of a palliative outpatient clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study population consists of all patients who died in the Kuopio University Hospital oncology ward between 1.1.2010-31.10.2011 and 1.1.2012-31.12.2018. The palliative outpatient clinic was established and set up in November - December 2011. Data on inpatient stays, cancer treatments, treatment decisions, and some background factors were retrieved from electronic records. RESULTS The study population totaled 644 patients dying in the oncology ward at KUH (57.8% males; 42.2% females). The deaths comprise 17.2% (191/1108) of all cancer deaths in 2010-2011 and 11.1% (461/4049) in 2012-2018 in the KUH catchment area (North-Savo Health Care District). In years 2012-2018, 14.1% of patients treated at KUH oncology clinic visited the palliative outpatient clinic. The percentage of DNR (do-not-resuscitate), palliative care, and end-of-life (EOL) care decisions increased significantly in the later period. The decisions were mainly made during the last week of life. The proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy during the last two weeks of life remained stable. CONCLUSION The proportion of patients receiving DNR, palliative care and EOL care decisions increased after the implementation of the palliative outpatient clinic, but the decisions were still made rather late, mainly during the last days of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Tolppanen
- Center of Oncology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annamarja Lamminmäki
- Center of Oncology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Helena Länsimies
- University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- City of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
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van der Padt-Pruijsten A, Leys MBL, Hoop EOD, van der Heide A, van der Rijt CCD. The effect of a palliative care pathway on medical interventions at the end of life: a pre-post-implementation study. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:9299-9306. [PMID: 36071303 PMCID: PMC9633459 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07352-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Adequate integration of palliative care in oncological care can improve the quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. Whether such integration affects the use of diagnostic procedures and medical interventions has not been studied extensively. We investigated the effect of the implementation of a standardized palliative care pathway in a hospital on the use of diagnostic procedures, anticancer treatment, and other medical interventions in patients with incurable cancer at the end of their life. METHODS In a pre- and post-intervention study, data were collected concerning adult patients with cancer who died between February 2014 and February 2015 (pre-PCP period) or between November 2015 and November 2016 (post-PCP period). We collected information on diagnostic procedures, anticancer treatments, and other medical interventions during the last 3 months of life. RESULTS We included 424 patients in the pre-PCP period and 426 in the post-PCP period. No differences in percentage of laboratory tests (85% vs 85%, p = 0.795) and radiological procedures (85% vs 82%, p = 0.246) were found between both groups. The percentage of patients who received anticancer treatment or other medical interventions was lower in the post-PCP period (40% vs 22%, p < 0.001; and 42% vs 29%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a PCP resulted in fewer medical interventions, including anticancer treatments, in the last 3 months of life. Implementation of the PCP may have created awareness among physicians of patients' impending death, thereby supporting caregivers and patients to make appropriate decisions about medical treatment at the end of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Netherlands Trial Register; clinical trial number: NL 4400 (NTR4597); date registrated: 2014-04-27.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemieke van der Padt-Pruijsten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ,Department Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria B. L. Leys
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esther Oomen-de Hoop
- Department Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Agnes van der Heide
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Ullgren H, Fransson P, Olofsson A, Segersvärd R, Sharp L. Health care utilization at end of life among patients with lung or pancreatic cancer. Comparison between two Swedish cohorts. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254673. [PMID: 34270589 PMCID: PMC8284833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The purpose was to analyze trends in intensity of care at End-of-life (EOL), in two cohorts of patients with lung or pancreatic cancer. Setting We used population-based registry data on health care utilization to describe proportions and intensity of care at EOL comparing the two cohorts (deceased in the years of 2010 and 2017 respectively) in the region of Stockholm, Sweden. Primary and secondary outcomes Main outcomes were intensity of care during the last 30 days of life; systemic anticancer treatment (SACT), emergency department (ED) visits, length of stay (LOS) > 14 days, intensive care (ICU), death at acute care hospital and lack of referral to specialized palliative care (SPC) at home. The secondary outcomes were outpatient visits, place of death and hospitalizations, as well as radiotherapy and major surgery. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used for associations. A moderation variable was added to assess for the effect of SPC at home between the cohorts. Results Intensity of care at EOL increased over time between the cohorts, especially use of SACT, increased with 10%, p<0.001, (n = 102/754 = 14% to n = 236/972 = 24%), ED visits with 7%, p<0.001, (n = 25/754 = 3% to n = 100/972 = 10%) and ICU care, 2%, p = 0.04, (n = 12/754 = 2% to n = 38/972 = 4%). High intensity of care at EOL were more likely among patients with lung cancer. The difference in use of SACT between the years, was moderated by SPC, with an increase of SACT, unstandardized coefficient β; 0.87, SE = 0.27, p = 0.001, as well as the difference between the years in death at acute care hospitals, that decreased (β = 0.69, SE = 0.26, p = 0.007). Conclusion These findings underscore an increase of several aspects regarding intensity of care at EOL, and a need for further exploration of the optimal organization of EOL care. Our results indicate fragmentation of care and a need to better organize and coordinate care for vulnerable patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ullgren
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Regional Cancer Center, Stockholm, Gotland, Sweden
- Theme cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Per Fransson
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Ralf Segersvärd
- Regional Cancer Center, Stockholm, Gotland, Sweden
- Department of Surgery, CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Sharp
- Regional Cancer Center, Stockholm, Gotland, Sweden
- Department of Innovative Care, LIME, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Hirvonen OM, Leskelä RL, Grönholm L, Haltia O, Voltti S, Tyynelä-Korhonen K, Rahko EK, Lehto JT, Saarto T. The impact of the duration of the palliative care period on cancer patients with regard to the use of hospital services and the place of death: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:37. [PMID: 32209075 PMCID: PMC7093948 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00547-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In order to avoid unnecessary use of hospital services at the end-of-life, palliative care should be initiated early enough in order to have sufficient time to initiate and carry out good quality advance care planning (ACP). This single center study assesses the impact of the PC decision and its timing on the use of hospital services at EOL and the place of death. Methods A randomly chosen cohort of 992 cancer patients treated in a tertiary hospital between Jan 2013 –Dec 2014, who were deceased by the end of 2014, were selected from the total number of 2737 identified from the hospital database. The PC decision (the decision to terminate life-prolonging anticancer treatments and focus on symptom centered palliative care) and use of PC unit services were studied in relation to emergency department (ED) visits, hospital inpatient days and place of death. Results A PC decision was defined for 82% of the patients and 37% visited a PC unit. The earlier the PC decision was made, the more often patients had an appointment at the PC unit (> 180 days prior to death 72% and < 14 days 10%). The number of ED visits and inpatient days were highest for patients with no PC decision and lowest for patients with both a PC decision and an PC unit appointment (60 days before death ED visits 1.3 vs 0.8 and inpatient days 9.9 vs 2.9 respectively, p < 0.01). Patients with no PC decision died more often in secondary/tertiary hospitals (28% vs. 19% with a PC decision, and 6% with a decision and an appointment to a PC unit). Conclusions The PC decision to initiate a palliative goal for the treatment had a distinct impact on the use of hospital services at the EOL. Contact with a PC unit further increased the likelihood of EOL care at primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Outi M Hirvonen
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital and Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Turku, PO Box 52, FI-20521, Turku, Finland.
| | | | - Lotta Grönholm
- Department of Palliative Care, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, and Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Haltia
- Tuusula Health Care Centre, Tuusula, Finland
| | | | | | - Eeva K Rahko
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juho T Lehto
- Department of Oncology, Palliative Care Unit, Tampere University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Tiina Saarto
- Department of Palliative Care, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, and Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
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