Transitions between care settings at the end of life in the Netherlands: results from a nationwide study.
Multiple transitions between care settings in the last phase of life could jeopardize continuity of care and overall end-of-life patient care. Using a mortality follow-back study, we examined the nature and prevalence of transitions between Dutch care settings in the last 3 months of life, and identified potential characteristics associated with them. During the 2-year study period, 690 registered patients died 'totally expectedly and non-suddenly'. These made 709 transitions in the last 3 months, which involved a hospital two times out of three, and covered 43 distinct care trajectories. The most frequent trajectory was home-to-hospital (48%). Forty-six percent experienced one or more transitions in their last month of life. Male gender, multi-morbidities, and absence of GP awareness of a patient's wish for place of death were associated with having a transition in the last 30 days of life; age of < or = 85 years, having an infection and the absence of a palliative-centred treatment goal were associated with terminal hospitalization for > or = 7 days. Although the majority of the 'totally expected and non-sudden' deaths occurred at home, transitions to hospitals were relatively frequent. To minimize abrupt or frequent transitions just before death, timely recognition of the palliative phase of dying is important.
Abarshi
Ebun
E
Department of Public and Occupational Care, The EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ebun.abarshi@vumc.nl
Echteld
Michael
M
Van den Block
Lieve
L
Donker
Gé
G
Deliens
Luc
L
Onwuteaka-Philipsen
Bregje
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006738:Hospices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult