Which cancer patients die in nursing homes? Quality of life, medical and sociodemographic characteristics
Författare
Summary, in English
In this study, cancer patients' characteristics associated with death in nursing homes were explored. The study sample included 395 cancer patients who had participated in a trial of palliative care, 260 ( 66%) patients died in hospital, 80 (20%) at home and 55 (14%) in nursing homes. Health-related quality of life was prospectively recorded using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Death in nursing home was associated with greater age, not living with spouse and poor performance status. Patients dying in nursing homes reported severe functioning impairments and more fatigue and appetite loss compared with those dying elsewhere. The association between death in nursing homes and poor physical, role, cognitive and social functioning remained significant when sociodemographic and medical differences were taken into account. Further research on frail elderly cancer patients is warranted to improve their care, to evaluate the appropriateness of nursing home placement and for future planning of palliative care services.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2003
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
433-444
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Palliative Medicine
Volym
17
Issue
5
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
SAGE Publications
Ämne
- Otorhinolaryngology
Nyckelord
- nursing homes
- palliative care
- place of death
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Laryngoesophagology, Allergy and Life Quality
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1477-030X