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Symptom Management and Support in Dying Patients with Cancer and Coronavirus Disease-19—A Register-Based Study
| Content Provider | SAGE Publishing |
|---|---|
| Author | Hedman, Christel Strang, Peter Lundström, Staffan Martinsson, Lisa |
| Copyright Year | 2023 |
| Abstract | ObjectiveLittle is known to what extent access to specialist palliative care (SPC) for cancer patients dying with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) affects the occurrence of breakthrough symptoms, symptom relief, and overall care, compared to hospital deaths. Our aim was to include patients with both COVID-19 and cancer and compare those dying in hospitals with those dying in SPC with reference to the quality of end-of-life care.MethodsPatients with both cancer and COVID-19 who died in hospitals (n = 430) and within SPC (n = 384) were identified from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. The hospital and SPC groups were compared regarding the quality of end-of-life care, including the occurrence of 6 breakthrough symptoms during the last week in life, symptom relief, end-of-life care decisions, information, support, and human presence at death.ResultsBreakthrough of breathlessness was more common in the hospital patients compared to the SPC patients (61% and 39%, respectively; p < .001), while pain was less common (65% and 78%, respectively; p < .001). Breakthrough of nausea, anxiety, respiratory secretions, or confusion did not differ. All 6 symptoms, except for confusion, were more often completely relieved in SPC (p = .014 to p < .001 in different comparisons). In SPC, a documented decision about the goal being end-of-life care and information about this were more common than in hospitals (p < .001). Also, to have family members present at the time of death and for family members to be offered a follow-up talk afterward was more common in SPC (p < .001).ConclusionMore systematic palliative care routines may be an important factor for better symptom control and higher quality of end-of-life care in hospitals. |
| Related Links | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/08258597231157622?download=true |
| Starting Page | 261 |
| Ending Page | 267 |
| Page Count | 7 |
| ISSN | 08258597 |
| Issue Number | 3 |
| Volume Number | 38 |
| Journal | Journal of Palliative Care (PAL) |
| e-ISSN | 23695293 |
| DOI | 10.1177/08258597231157622 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Sage Publications CA |
| Publisher Date | 2023-02-15 |
| Publisher Place | Los Angeles |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Rights Holder | © The Author(s) 2023 |
| Subject Keyword | COVID-19 palliative care cancer end-of-life care hospital care symptoms |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
| Subject | Medicine |
