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Jhang H, Jeong W, Zhang HS, Choi DW, Kang H, Park S. The effects of hospice care on healthcare expenditure among cancer patients. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:831. [PMID: 37550691 PMCID: PMC10405473 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09578-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE It is necessary to estimate the hospice usage and hospice-related cost for entire cancer patients using nationwide cohort data to establish a suitable ethical and cultural infrastructure. This study aims to show the effects of hospital hospice care on healthcare expenditure among South Korean cancer patients. METHODS This study is a retrospective cohort study using customized health information data provided by the National Health Insurance Service. Individuals who were diagnosed with stomach, colorectal, or lung cancer between 2003 and 2012 were defined as new cancer patients, which included 7,176 subjects. Patients who died under hospital-based hospice care during the follow-up period from January 2016 to December 2018 comprised the treatment group. Healthcare expenditure was the dependent variable. Generalized estimating equations was used. RESULTS Among the subjects, 2,219 (30.9%) had used hospice care at an average total cost of 948,771 (± 3,417,384) won. Individuals who had used hospice care had a lower odds ratio (EXP(β)) of healthcare expenditure than those who did not (Total cost: EXP(β) = 0.27, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.25-0.30; Hospitalization cost: EXP(β) = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.29-0.35; Outpatient cost: EXP(β) = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.02-0.02). CONCLUSION Healthcare expenditure was reduced among those cancer patients in South Korea who used hospice care compared with among those who did not. This emphasizes the importance of using hospice care and encourages those hesitant to use hospice care. The results provide useful insights into both official policy and the existing practices of healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoyol Jhang
- Department of Health Informatics & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjeong Jeong
- Cancer Knowledge & Information Center, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Soo Zhang
- Department of Health Informatics & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Woo Choi
- Cancer Big Data Center, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejung Kang
- Department of Health Informatics & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohee Park
- Department of Health Informatics & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Yun I, Kim H, Park EC, Jang SY. Association of perceived life satisfaction with attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment among the elderly in South Korea: a cross-sectional study. BMC Palliat Care 2022; 21:184. [PMID: 36244986 PMCID: PMC9575263 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01072-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amidst rapid population aging, South Korea enacted the Well-dying Act, late among advanced countries, but public opinion on the act is not still clear. Against this background, this study aims to: 1) investigate factors affecting elderly individuals' attitude toward life-sustaining treatment, and 2) examine whether attitude toward life-sustaining treatment is related to their perceived life satisfaction. METHODS Data from the 2020 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons were used. There were 9,916 participants (3,971 males; 5,945 females). We used multivariable-adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance to examine the association between perceived life satisfaction and attitude toward life-sustaining treatment and calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS After adjusting potential confounders, the probabilities that the elderly who were dissatisfied with their current life would favor life-sustaining treatment were 1.52 times (95% CI: 1.15-1.64) and 1.28 times (95% CI: 1.09-1.51) higher for men and women, respectively, than the elderly who were satisfied. In addition, attitudes in favor of life-sustaining treatment were observed prominently among the elderly with long schooling years or high household income, when they were dissatisfied with their life. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that for the elderly, life satisfaction is an important factor influencing how they exercise their autonomy and rights regarding dying well and receiving life-sustaining treatment. It is necessary to introduce interventions that would enhance the life satisfaction of the elderly and terminally ill patients and enable them to make their own decisions according to the values of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Yun
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunkyu Kim
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Cheol Park
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Yong Jang
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Healthcare Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-to, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Kim D, Kim S, Lee KH, Han SH. Use of antimicrobial agents in actively dying inpatients after suspension of life-sustaining treatments: Suggestion for antimicrobial stewardship. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2022; 55:651-661. [PMID: 35365408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of antimicrobial treatment in end-of-life care has been controversial, whether antibiotics have beneficial effects on comfort and prolonged survival or long-term harmful effects on increasing antimicrobial resistance. We assessed the use of antimicrobial agents and factors associated with de-escalation in inpatients who suspended life-sustaining treatments (SLST) and immediately died. METHODS We included 1296 (74.7%) inpatients who died within 7 days after SLST out of 1734 patients who consented to SLST on their own or family's initiative following a decision by two physicians, observing the "Life-sustaining Treatment Decision Act" between January 2020 and December 2020 at two teaching hospitals. De-escalation was defined as changing to narrower spectrum anti-bacterial drugs or stopping ≥ one antibiotic of combined treatment. RESULTS 90.6% of total patients received anti-bacterial agents, particularly a combination treatment in 60.1% and use of ≥ three drugs in 18.2% of them. Antifungal and antiviral drugs were administered to 12.6% and 3.3% of the patients on SLST, respectively. Antibacterial and antifungal agents were withdrawn in only 8.3% and 1.3% of the patients after SLST, respectively. Anti-bacterial de-escalation was performed in 17.0% of patients, but 43.6% of them received more or broad-spectrum antibiotics after SLST. In multivariate regression, longer hospital stays before SLST, initiation of SLST in the intensive care unit, and cardiovascular diseases were independently associated with anti-bacterial de-escalation after SLST. CONCLUSIONS The intervention for substantial antibiotic use in patients on SLST should be carefully considered as antimicrobial stewardship after decision by the will of the patient and proxy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayeong Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Hwa Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Han
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Kim JS, Lee SY, Lee MS, Yoo SH, Shin J, Choi W, Kim Y, Han HS, Hong J, Keam B, Heo DS. Aggressiveness of care in the last days of life in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Korea. Palliat Care 2022; 21:105. [PMID: 35668487 PMCID: PMC9170493 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-00988-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High-quality end-of-life (EOL) care requires both comfort care and the maintenance of dignity. However, delivering EOL in the emergency department (ED) is often challenging. Therefore, we aimed to investigate characteristics of EOL care for dying patients in the ED. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who died of disease in the ED at a tertiary hospital in Korea between January 2018 and December 2020. We examined medical care within the last 24 h of life and advance care planning (ACP) status. Results Of all 222 disease-related mortalities, 140 (63.1%) were men, while 141 (63.5%) had cancer. The median age was 74 years. As for critical care, 61 (27.5%) patients received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while 80 (36.0%) received mechanical ventilation. The absence of serious illness (p = 0.011) and the lack of an advance statement (p < 0.001) were both independently associated with the receipt of more critical care. Only 70 (31.5%) patients received comfort care through opioids. Younger patients (< 75 years) (p = 0.002) and those who completed life-sustaining treatment legal forms (p = 0.001) received more comfort care. While EOL discussions were initiated in 150 (67.6%) cases, the palliative care team was involved only in 29 (13.1%). Conclusions Patients in the ED underwent more aggressive care and less comfort care in a state of imminent death. To ensure better EOL care, physicians should minimize redundant evaluations and promptly introduce ACP. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-00988-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Sun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun Young Lee
- Public Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Sung Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shin Hye Yoo
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea.
| | - Jeongmi Shin
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Wonho Choi
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Yejin Kim
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Hyung Sook Han
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Jinui Hong
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Patient-Centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center, National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Korea
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Heo DS, Yoo SH, Keam B, Yoo SH, Koh Y. Problems Related to the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment and Directions for Improvement. JOURNAL OF HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE 2022; 25:1-11. [PMID: 37674892 PMCID: PMC10180009 DOI: 10.14475/jhpc.2022.25.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment has been in effect since 2018 for end-of-life patients. However, only 20~25% of deaths of terminally ill patients comply with the law, while the remaining 75~80% do not. There is significant confusion in how the law distinguishes between those in the terminal stage and those in the dying process. These 2 stages can be hard to distinguish, and they should be understood as a single unified "terminal stage." The number of medical institutions eligible for life-sustaining treatment decisions should be legally expanded to properly reflect patients' wishes. To prevent unnecessary suffering resulting from futile life-sustaining treatment, life-sustaining treatment decisions for terminal patients without the needed familial relationships should be permitted and made by hospital ethics committees. Adult patients should be permitted to assign a legal representative appointed in advance to represent them. Medical records can be substituted for a patient's judgment letter (No. 9) and an implementation letter (No. 13) for the decision to suspend life-sustaining treatment. Forms 1, 10, 11, and 12 should be combined into a single form. The purpose of the Life-sustaining Medical Decisions Act is to respect patients' right to self-determination and protect their best interests. Issues related to the act that have emerged in the 3 years since its implementation must be analyzed, and a plan should be devised to improve upon its shortcomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Seog Heo
- Patient-Centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center, National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Korea
| | - Shin Hye Yoo
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea
| | - Sang Ho Yoo
- Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Korea
| | - Younsuck Koh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
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Lee DH. The Law Changes Behaviors: Is It Just Enough? Cancer Res Treat 2021; 53:895-896. [PMID: 34583459 PMCID: PMC8524005 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2021.1025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dae Ho Lee
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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