Universität zu Köln

Kasdorf, Alina ORCID: 0000-0002-4982-9288, Dust, Gloria, Hamacher, Stefanie ORCID: 0000-0003-2158-9101, Schippel, Nicolas, Rietz, Christian, Voltz, Raymond and Strupp, Julia (2022). The last year of life for patients dying from cancer vs. non-cancer causes: a retrospective cross-sectional survey of bereaved relatives. Support. Care Cancer, 30 (6). S. 4971 - 4980. NEW YORK: SPRINGER. ISSN 1433-7339

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Abstract

Purpose To compare health care experiences of patients with cancer or non-cancer diseases in their last year of life. Methods A cross-sectional post-bereavement survey was conducted using an adapted German version of the VOICES questionnaire (VOICES-LYOL-Cologne). Differences in the reported experiences were assessed using a two-sided Pearson's chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results We collected data from 351 bereaved relatives. More than half of non-cancer patients were not informed that their disease could lead to death (p < 0.001). When this was communicated, in 46.7% of non-cancer and 64.5% of cancer patients, it was reported by the hospital doctor (p = 0.050). In all, 66.9% of non-cancer and 41.6% of cancer patients were not informed about death being imminent (p < 0.001). On average, non-cancer patients had significantly fewer transitions and hospital stays in their last year of life (p = 0.014; p = 0.008, respectively). Non-cancer patients were treated more often by general practitioners, and cancer patients were treated more often by specialists (p = 0.002; p = 0.002, respectively). A substantially lower proportion of non-cancer patients were treated by at least one member of or in the setting of general or specialized palliative care (p < 0.001). Conclusions Non-cancer patients experience disadvantages in communication regarding their care and in access to specialized palliative care in their last year of life compared to cancer patients. Regarding the assessment of palliative care needs and the lack of communication of an incurable disease, non-cancer patients are underserved. An early identification of patients requiring palliative care is a major public health concern and should be addressed irrespective of diagnosis.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Kasdorf, Alina UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-4982-9288 UNSPECIFIED Dust, Gloria UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hamacher, Stefanie UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-2158-9101 UNSPECIFIED Schippel, Nicolas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Rietz, Christian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Voltz, Raymond UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Strupp, Julia UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-668535
DOI:	10.1007/s00520-022-06908-8
Journal or Publication Title:	Support. Care Cancer
Volume:	30
Number:	6
Page Range:	S. 4971 - 4980
Date:	2022
Publisher:	SPRINGER
Place of Publication:	NEW YORK
ISSN:	1433-7339
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SPECIALIZED PALLIATIVE CARE; OLDER-ADULTS; PREVALENCE; GERMANY; OUTCOMES; DISEASE; TRENDS; END Multiple languages Oncology; Health Care Sciences & Services; Rehabilitation Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/66853