[Terminal care of cancer patients].
BACKGROUND
Palliative medicine is increasingly important in the health services.


METHODS
The records of 52 patients who died in the department of oncology of Ullevaal University Hospital, July to December 1999 were examined. Major symptoms at the time of admission, information, communication, and the quality of the patient records were registered.


RESULTS
50 out of 52 patients had severe pain at admission. Only five patients were in contact with the community care system at the time of admission. There was insufficient documentation in the patients' records of whether the patients themselves or their next of kin were sufficiently informed about their situation.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of cancer-related pain in a home-care setting could be improved. Cooperation between the hospital and home-based care is at present suboptimal. Documentation relating to terminal care in the patient records should be improved.
Melsom
H
H
Onkologisk avdeling Ullevål sykehus 0407 Oslo. haakon.melsom@ulleval.no
Wist
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009664:Norway; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards