title: Resource utilization among individuals dying of pediatric life-threatening diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Very little information exists on the number of resources utilized by individuals living with and dying of pediatric life-threatening diseases (LTDs). This study quantifies end of life (EOL) resource utilization among the pediatric population in British Columbia, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from Vital Statistics British Columbia were obtained for the pediatric population that died between 2002/03 and 2006/07. Our sample included three age groups: less than 1 year (excluding sudden infant death syndrome cases), 1 to 19 years, and 20 to 24 years. Using data from the Medical Services Plan and Discharge Abstract Database, we calculated annual rates of resources utilized (number of discharges, number of days in hospital, and number of medical services used) for every pediatric death that was due to an LTD in our selected 5-year time frame. Place of death was also explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the fiscal year of death and the fiscal year prior to death, children/adolescents and young adults dying of a pediatric LTD respectively experienced 5.3 and 3.7 hospital discharges, spent 48 and 39 days in the hospital, and required approximately 222 and 230 medical services. Infants were discharged once on average, and required 21 medical services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resource utilization was very high for all three age groups, demonstrating the intense need for care by children dying of disease. These findings call for the strengthening of palliative care services in the province.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Negar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chavoshi
authors.forename: Tanice
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Siden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001955:British Columbia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013727:Terminal Care; D055815:Young Adult