title: Hospice in end-of-life patients with cancer: does it lead to changes in nonhospice health care utilization after stopping cancer treatment?
abstract: This study assessed the patterns of nonhospice health care utilization among 207 deceased cancer patients and focused on outcomes after cancer treatment was stopped. A total of 117 (57%) were enrolled in hospice. The mean cumulative number of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or other noncancer clinic visits (standard deviation) among those enrolled and not enrolled in hospice was 1.8 (± 1.8) and 3.11 (± 3.0), respectively (P < .0001). Among hospice enrollees, the mean cumulative visits (standard deviation) was 1.29 (± 1.7) and 0.5 (± 1.0) before and after enrollment, respectively (P < .0001). For patients who eventually enrolled, the rates of nonhospice health care visits (visits per week) yielded a trend to suggest a decline (P = .054). Hospice was associated with a drop in nonhospice-related health care utilization, thus suggesting it provides timely medical interventions and favorable continuity of care.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen Radecki
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Breitkopf
authors.forename: Elisabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Aminah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jatoi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cancer; end of life; health care utilization; hospice