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  O19 - Support and Palliation I (ID 138)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Oral Abstract Session
  • Track: Nurses
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:Y. Chen, J. Ingham
  • Coordinates: 10/29/2013, 10:30 - 12:00, Bayside 104, Level 1

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    O19.07 - Resource utilization in the last three months of life by lung cancer patients in the Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) (ID 1669)

    11:35 - 11:45  |  Author(s): S. Schiff
    • Abstract
    • Presentation
    • Slides

    Background
    Data from the Ontario Cancer System Quality Index demonstrate a high use of Emergency Department (ED) services by lung cancer patients in the last three months of life. There is a need to better understand the resource utilization of lung cancer patients during this time period.

    Methods
    A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate resource utilization in the last three months of life for new patients with lung cancer seen at the Juravinski and Walker Family Cancer Centres between January and June 2011and deceased prior to July 2012. Data abstracted from patient records included demographics, staging, treatment, referral to palliative care, use of community services, visits to the cancer centre and family doctor, visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations in the last three months of life. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients using the ED in the last three months of life. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients hospitalized, place of death, and the use of community and palliative care services.

    Results
    There were 323 new patients seen during the six month period and 162 were deceased at the time of data cut-off. There were 86 men (53%) and 76 women (47%), with a median age at diagnosis was 68.9 years (range 38-90). The majority were married (66%), but 20% were living alone. Twenty percent of patients had SCLC, 73% NSCLC and 7% did not have tissue diagnosis. Most patients (n=141, 87%) were treated with palliative intent from the outset. Chemotherapy was administered to 63 patients (39%) with 11 (7%) receiving chemotherapy within the last 2 weeks of life. A greater proportion of patients received radiation therapy (n=111, 69% [10% radical, 90% palliative]). The median overall survival was 4.1 months (95%CI 3.4-4.8m). The majority of patients (n=132, 82%) were referred to community care services (CCAC) and most of these received community palliative services (n=113, 70%). The median time from CCAC referral to death was 2.5 months (0.3 – 31 months). There was documentation about a change in goal from active treatment to supportive care in 38% of patients and documentation of end of life discussion in 66% of patients. Place of death was: hospital (51%), home (21%), hospice/palliative care institution (20%), unknown (8%). During the last three months of life 93% visited the cancer centre (median visits 2, range 0-10) and 67% made calls to the cancer centre (median 1, range 0-19). Visits to the ED were made by 118 patients (73%, median visits 1, range 1-9) and 36 patients were hospitalized (22%, median 1, range 1-5). Patients referred to CCAC were less likely to visit the ED (72% v 83%, p=0.2).

    Conclusion
    Lung cancer patients use considerable range of services during the last three months of life. Use of acute care services such as the ED and hospitalizations are common. CCAC referral has a small impact on the use of acute care services.

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