Improvements in hospice utilization among patients with advanced-stage lung cancer in an integrated health care system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hospice, a patient-centered care system for those with limited life expectancy, is important for enhancing quality of life and is understudied in integrated health care systems.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of 21,860 decedents with advanced-stage lung cancer diagnosed from January 2007 to June 2013 in the national US Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Trends over time, geographic regional variability, and patient and tumor characteristics associated with hospice use and the timing of enrollment were examined. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used.

Results

From 2007 to 2013, 70.3% of decedents with advanced-stage lung cancer were enrolled in hospice. Among patients in hospice, 52.9% were enrolled

SUBMITTER: Sullivan DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5760351 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature