Trends in hospice referral timing and location among individuals dying of ovarian cancer: persistence of missed opportunities.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate trends, racial disparities, and opportunities to improve the timing and location of hospice referral for women dying of ovarian cancer.

Methods

This retrospective claims analysis included 4258 Medicare beneficiaries over age 66 diagnosed with ovarian cancer who survived at least 6 months after diagnosis, died between 2007 and 2016, and enrolled in a hospice. We examined trends in timing and clinical location (outpatient, inpatient hospital, nursing/long-term care, other) of hospice referrals and associations with patient race and ethnicity using multivariable multinomial logistic regression.

Results

In this sample, 56% of hospice enrollees were referred to a hospice within a month of death, and referral timing did not vary by patient race. Referr

SUBMITTER: Mullins MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10577799 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature