Impact of COVID-19 on the End-of-Life Care of Cancer Patients Who Died in a Korean Tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Social distancing and strict visitor restrictions at hospitals have been national policies since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This has challenged the concept of a good death in comfort with the opportunity to say goodbye. Little is known about how these measures have influenced end-of-life (EOL) care among cancer patients who die in acute care hospitals. This study examined changes in the EOL care of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 1,456 adult cancer patients who died in 2019 (n=752) and 2020 (n=704) at a tertiary hospital. Data on EOL care-symptom control and comfort care in an imminently dying state, preparation for death, place of death, and aggressive care in the last month-were r

SUBMITTER: Shin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10179996 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature