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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2008

01-09-2008 | Original Article

Application of quality audit tools to evaluate care quality received by terminal cancer patients admitted to a palliative care unit

Authors: Li-Yun Tsai, In-Fun Li, Ching-Ping Liu, Wen-Hao Su, Tse-Yun Change

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2008

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Abstract

Goals

We aimed to evaluate the palliative care quality for terminal cancer patients as a reference for prospective service improvements.

Patients and methods

A prospective study was conducted to analyze the quality audit data collected from 1,476 samples in one medical center’s palliative care unit. Lai’s modified version of the support team assessment schedule was utilized for 2-year data collection, applying 17 categories of audit criteria rated on a scale of 0 to 4 (0—no symptoms, 4—significant symptoms). The quality audit criteria were scored weekly for 2 weeks following patient admission.

Results

Average scores of quality audit criteria from admission to week 2 were 10.05, 8.85, and 8.49, respectively, with statistical differences noted weekly. Efficacy of palliative care was most evident 2 weeks after hospitalization. Factors with statistically significant differences between admission and week 1 included: pain control, constipation, vomiting, anorexia, other symptom control, patient anxiety, self awareness and preparation of patient for illness, self awareness and preparation of family for illness, and satisfaction of patient’s spiritual belief and life philosophy. Factors with statistically significant differences between weeks 1 and 2 included: pain control, other symptom control, self awareness and preparation of family for illness, and satisfaction of patient’s spiritual belief and life philosophy.

Conclusions

Patients in hospice care received adequate symptom relief. Total quality audit scores declined progressively over the 2 weeks following patient admission, indicating efficacy of palliative care quality.
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Metadata
Title
Application of quality audit tools to evaluate care quality received by terminal cancer patients admitted to a palliative care unit
Authors
Li-Yun Tsai
In-Fun Li
Ching-Ping Liu
Wen-Hao Su
Tse-Yun Change
Publication date
01-09-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0365-1

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