Current practice of hospital-based palliative care teams: Advance care planning in advanced stages of disease: A retrospective observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Specialist palliative care teams are consulted during hospital admission for advice on complex palliative care. These consultations need to be timely to prevent symptom burden and maintain quality of life. Insight into specialist palliative care teams may help improve the outcomes of palliative care.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed qualitative and quantitative data of palliative care consultations in a six-month period (2017 or 2018) in four general hospitals in the northwestern part of the Netherlands. Data were obtained from electronic medical records.

Results

We extracted data from 336 consultations. The most common diagnoses were cancer (54.8%) and organ failure (26.8%). The estimated life expectancy was less than three mo

SUBMITTER: van Doorne I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10903912 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature