Noncancer Palliative Care: The Lost Pieces in an Acute Care Setting in Taiwan
Journal
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Journal Volume
30
Journal Issue
4
Pages
334-338
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Abstract
Little is known about the picture of patients receiving palliative care in the acute care setting. The study was conducted in a medical center in Taiwan. Cancer palliative care (CPC) was performed for terminal do-not-resuscitate (DNR) patients with advanced cancers. Noncancer palliative care (NCPC) was performed for DNR patients who did not fulfill the criteria of CPC. Of the 1379 consecutive admissions, 258 patients were identified, with 193 (74.8%) requiring NCPC and 65 (25.2%) requiring CPC. The NCPC patients were older and had lower Charlson comorbidity index (2.6 vs 8.6, P < .001) than CPC patients and had poorer consciousness and more organ failure than CPC patients when recognized. Many noncancer patients without access to specialist palliative care services were treated in the acute care setting with delayed recognition. ? The Author(s) 2012.
Other Subjects
age distribution; aged; article; Barthel index; Charlson Comorbidity Index; chronic disease; comorbidity; comparative study; daily life activity; do-not-resuscitate; female; hospice care; hospitalist; human; length of stay; male; mortality; needs assessment; neoplasm; noncancer palliative care; nonparametric test; palliative therapy; resuscitation; retrospective study; standard; statistics; Taiwan; terminally ill patient; tertiary care center; Barthel index; Charlson comorbidity index; do-not-resuscitate; hospitalist; noncancer palliative care; palliative care; Activities of Daily Living; Age Distribution; Aged; Chronic Disease; Comorbidity; Female; Hospice Care; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Needs Assessment; Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Resuscitation Orders; Retrospective Studies; Statistics, Nonparametric; Taiwan; Terminally Ill; Tertiary Care Centers
Type
journal article