Hospital variation and temporal trends in palliative and end-of-life care in the ICU.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Although studies have shown regional and interhospital variability in the intensity of end-of-life care, few data are available assessing variability in specific aspects of palliative care in the ICU across hospitals or interhospital variability in family and nurse ratings of this care. Recently, relatively high family satisfaction with ICU end-of-life care has prompted speculation that ICU palliative care has improved over time, but temporal trends have not been documented.

Design/setting

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients dying in the ICU in 13 Seattle-Tacoma-area hospitals between 2003 and 2008.

Measurements

We examined variability over time and among hospitals in satisfaction and quality of dying assessed by family, quality of dying asse

SUBMITTER: DeCato TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4009379 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature