Palliative inpatients in general hospitals: a one day observational study in Belgium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hospital care plays a major role at the end-of-life. But little is known about the overall size and characteristics of the palliative inpatient population. The aim of our study was to analyse these aspects.

Methods

We conducted a one-day observational study in 14 randomly selected Belgian hospitals. Patients who met the definition of palliative patients were identified as palliative. Then, information about their socio-demographic characteristics, diagnoses, prognosis, and care plan were recorded and analysed.

Results

There were 2639 in-patients on the day of the study; 9.4% of them were identified as "palliative". The mean age of the group was 72 years. The primary diagnosis was cancer in 51% of patients and the estimated life expectancy was shorter than 3

SUBMITTER: Desmedt MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3052175 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature