[Domiciliary care of the terminal cancer patient: evaluation and proposals by physicians and nurses].
OBJECTIVE
To detect problems that terminal cancer patients pose to primary health care (PHC) professionals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
PHC professionals of the Manresa (province of Barcelona) health Sector of the National Health System.


METHODS
151 professionals (87 physicians and 64 nurses).


RESULTS
Self-responded anonymous questionnaire. Dates: 10-20 December, 1990; response rate: 89%. Most participants said in the previous year they were responsible for 3 or more home terminal cancer patients. 35.6% said emergencies were handled in a hospital; professionals working in non-urban areas and in the non-reformed Primary Care system less often used hospitals. Access to consultants was deemed difficult by most interviewees, but most said consultants' reports were good or excellent; physicians valued reports higher than nurses (odds ratio [OR] = 5.43, P < 0.001). Most participants reported continuous education to be scarce or nonexistent. Also, most said care given to terminal cancer patients was inadequate; younger professionals (p = 0.001) y and those working in the reformed Primary Care system (P = 0.003) were more critical.


CONCLUSIONS
Interest of primary care professionals in terminal cancer patients was higher in less populated areas, among those having a permanent contract and in the reformed system.
Busquet Durán
X
X
Instituto Catalán de la Salud (Manresa), Barcelona.
Porta Serra
M
M
Jariod
M
M
Busquet Mas
C
C
Sánchez Blanco
A M
AM
Duocastella Bastardes
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care
La atención domiciliaria al enfermo de cáncer terminal: valoración y propuestas de médicos y enfermeras.