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Optimizing hospital-based home care for dying cancer patients: a population-based study

1999; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 13; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1191/026921699676553518

1477-030X

Anders Rosenquist, Kristina Bergman, Peter Strang,

Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life

In many reports the percentage of home deaths in cancer is based on selected populations. In this population-based study all cancer patients who died within 12 months within a specified area were studied (n = 108). This area is covered by hospital-based home care (HBHC) on a 24-h basis, which doctors available by day and at night. Forty people (37%) out of the total cancer population died in their own homes. Another 11% would theoretically have been ideal candidates for home care at the end of life. Thus, a home death rate of about 50% of the cancer patients is a realistic figure, and much higher than the usual 5-15% reported, provided that an effective HBHC is offered.