Inpatient Hospice Palliative Care Unit and Palliative Consultation Service Enhance Comprehensive Quality of Life Outcomes in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Li-Fang Chang, Li-Fen Wu, Chi-Kang Lin, Ching-Liang Ho, Yu-Chun Hung, Hsueh-Hsing Pan

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6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of an inpatient hospice palliative care unit (PCU) and palliative consultation service (PCS) on comprehensive quality of life outcome (CoQoLo) among terminally ill cancer patients. This was a prospective longitudinal study. Terminally ill cancer patients who met the inclusion criteria and received PCU or PCS in a northern Taiwanese medical center were recruited. The CoQoLo Inventory was used to measure CoQoLo level pre- and seven days following hospice care between August 2018 and October 2019. A total of 90 patients completed the study. No significant differences were found in CoQoLo levels between the PCU and PCS groups pre- and seven days following care. However, the CoQoLo level of patients significantly improved seven days following care in both PCU and PCS groups, compared with pre-hospice care. Patients' age, religious belief, marital status, closeness with family, palliative prognostic index (PPI), and symptom severity were significant concerning CoQoLo levels after adjusting for patients' baseline characteristics. PCU and PCS showed no difference in CoQoLo levels, but both of them can improve CoQoLo among terminally ill cancer patients. These patients could receive PCU or PCS to achieve a good CoQoLo at the end-of-life stage.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational journal of environmental research and public health
Volume18
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 26 2021

Keywords

  • Hospices
  • Humans
  • Inpatients
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Neoplasms/therapy
  • Palliative Care
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Terminally Ill

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