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BMC Palliative Care
Published in: BMC Palliative Care 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Factors associated with emergency services use in Taiwanese advanced cancer patients receiving palliative home care services during out-of-hours periods: a retrospective medical record study

Authors: Yee-Hsin Kao, Yao-Ting Liu, Malcolm Koo, Jui-Kun Chiang

Published in: BMC Palliative Care | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

For patients receiving palliative home care, the need to visit the emergency department is considered to be an indicator of poor quality care. The situation can be particularly distressing when it occurs outside of normal hours of palliative home care service. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors for emergency department use during out-of-hours periods of palliative home care service among advanced cancer patients in Taiwan.

Methods

This case-control study was based on a retrospective medical chart review (January 2010 to December 2012) of advanced cancer patients who were receiving palliative home care in a community hospital in south Taiwan. The use of emergency medical services by these patients was dichotomized into either normal hours (8 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) of palliative home care or outside normal hours. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with emergency services use during out-of-hours period of palliative home care.
Results: Of the 94 patients receiving palliative home care, 65 had used emergency services at least once during the 3-year study period. Of these 65 patients, 40% used emergency services during out-of-hours of palliative home care. Patients with distressing conditions (defined as the occurrence of any two conditions of dyspnea, change of consciousness, or gastrointestinal bleeding) were significantly more likely to use emergency services during out-of-hours of palliative home care.

Conclusions

Patients at risk of developing dyspnea, change of consciousness, or gastrointestinal bleeding should be provided with relevant information regarding these symptoms and signs.
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Metadata
Title
Factors associated with emergency services use in Taiwanese advanced cancer patients receiving palliative home care services during out-of-hours periods: a retrospective medical record study
Authors
Yee-Hsin Kao
Yao-Ting Liu
Malcolm Koo
Jui-Kun Chiang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Palliative Care / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-684X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-018-0302-8

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