Publication: Hospice utilization and end-of-life care in metastatic breast cancer patients at a comprehensive cancer center
Issued Date
2015-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
15577740
10966218
10966218
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-84920272080
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Palliative Medicine. Vol.18, No.1 (2015), 50-55
Suggested Citation
Tracey L. O'Connor, Nuttapong Ngamphaiboon, Adrienne Groman, Debra L. Luczkiewicz, Sarah M. Kuszczak, Pei C. Grant, Christopher W. Kerr Hospice utilization and end-of-life care in metastatic breast cancer patients at a comprehensive cancer center. Journal of Palliative Medicine. Vol.18, No.1 (2015), 50-55. doi:10.1089/jpm.2014.0238 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/36865
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Title
Hospice utilization and end-of-life care in metastatic breast cancer patients at a comprehensive cancer center
Abstract
© 2015, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Background: Metastatic breast cancer patients have many options for therapy and may be at risk for late or absent hospice referrals, which make meaningful improvements in symptoms and quality of life difficult to achieve.Objective: We aimed to examine hospice utilization, status of patients on admission, and quality of care of patients treated for metastatic breast cancer from 1999 to 2010 at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center located in Western New York.Methods: We conducted a retrospective database review that identified 182 patients with deaths resulting from breast cancer who were eligible for services through a local not-for-profit hospice. Patients with metastatic breast cancer were matched to the hospice database for information on hospice utilization and quality measures. Date of last chemotherapy, medication use, documentation of advance directive and palliative care discussions, and place of death were collected through chart abstraction.Results: One-third (33%) of metastatic breast cancer patients treated at the cancer institute during the study period died without a hospice referral. Only 7% of patients who died without a hospice referral had a documented discussion of palliative care as an option by the oncology team (p<0.001). Those patients referred to hospice were significantly more likely to have an advance directive and to die at home. Patients with a longer duration of metastatic cancer were at risk for late referral.Conclusions: Efforts to enhance end-of-life (EOL) discussions and earlier referral to palliative care and hospice for patients with metastatic breast cancer are critical to improved patient care.