This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hunt, R. Articles by McCaul, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hunt, R. Articles by McCaul, K. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Cancer Hospice Care Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

A population-based study of the coverage of cancer patients by hospice services

Southern Community Hospice Proqramme ; Clinical Lecturer, Flinders Universitv of South Australia

Kieran McCaul

Epidemiology Branch, South Australian Public and Environmental Health Service

The aims were to determine the proportion of terminal cancer patients in South Australia who had involvement with a programme of hospice care, to identify the predictors of hospice involvement, and to consider the influence of hospice services, along with other variables, on the place of death. A file of patients of the State's hospice services who died in 1990 was compiled and linked to the population-based Central Cancer Register.

We found that 1561 (56%) of the 2800 cancer patients who died in 1990 had care from a hospice service. Patients were less likely to be involved with a hospice service if they were 80 years or older, lived in a rural region, or had a haematological malignancy, and more likely to have hospice care it they had a survival time of more than six months, or were born in the UK or Europe. Patients of hospice services were more likely than other patients to die at home or in an inpatient hospice, and less likely to die in a nursing home or private hospital. A range of other factors were also found to be associated with place of death.

We conclude that there has been a rapid acceptance of hospice care in South Australia, with a majority of the target population of cancer patients covered by services. Epidemiological research methods are useful for identifying gaps in the provision of care, and for determining the impact of various factors on where people die. This research is, therefore, important for the formulation and evaluation of policy for the delivery of terminal care.

Key Words: terminal care • cancer care facilities • hospices • community health nursing • place of death • family

Palliative Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 1, 5-12 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/026921639601000103


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A Howat, C Veitch, and W Cairns A retrospective review of place of death of palliative care patients in regional north Queensland Palliative Medicine, January 1, 2007; 21(1): 41 - 47. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Burt and R. Raine The effect of age on referral to and use of specialist palliative care services in adult cancer patients: a systematic review Age Ageing, September 1, 2006; 35(5): 469 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Gomes and I. J Higginson Factors influencing death at home in terminally ill patients with cancer: systematic review BMJ, March 4, 2006; 332(7540): 515 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Catt, M. Blanchard, J. Addington-Hall, M. Zis, R. Blizard, and M. King Older adults' attitudes to death, palliative treatment and hospice care Palliative Medicine, July 1, 2005; 19(5): 402 - 410. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Ahlner-Elmqvist, M. S Jordhoy, M. Jannert, P. Fayers, and S. Kaasa Place of death: hospital-based advanced home care versus conventional care: A prospective study in palliative cancer care Palliative Medicine, October 1, 2004; 18(7): 585 - 593. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. W Hunt, B S Fazekas, C G Luke, K R Priest, and D M Roder The coverage of cancer patients by designated palliative services: a population-based study, South Australia, 1999 Palliative Medicine, July 1, 2002; 16(5): 403 - 409. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Bruera, N. Russell, C. Sweeney, M. Fisch, and J. L. Palmer Place of Death and Its Predictors for Local Patients Registered at a Comprehensive Cancer Center J. Clin. Oncol., April 15, 2002; 20(8): 2127 - 2133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Addington-Hall, W. Fakhoury, and M. McCarthy Specialist palliative care in nonmalignant disease Palliative Medicine, September 1, 1998; 12(6): 417 - 427. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E Sahlberg-Blom, B-M Ternestedt, and J-E Johansson The last month of life: continuity, care site and place of death Palliative Medicine, June 1, 1998; 12(4): 287 - 296. [Abstract] [PDF]