title: Distribution and sharing of palliative care costs in rural areas of Canada.
abstract: Few data are available on the costs occurring during the palliative phase of care and on the sharing of these costs in rural areas. This study aimed to evaluate the costs related to all resources used by rural palliative care patients and to examine how these costs were shared between the public healthcare system (PHCS), patients' families, and not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs). A prospective longitudinal study was undertaken of 82 palliative care patients and their main informal caregivers in rural areas of four Canadian provinces. Telephone interviews were completed at two-week intervals. The mean total cost per patient for a six-month participation in a palliative care program was CA$31,678 +/- 1,160. A large part of this cost was attributable to inpatient hospital stays and was assumed by the PHCS. The patient's family contributed less than a quarter of the mean total cost per patient, and this was mainly attributable to caregiving time.
authors: Serge
authors: S
authors: Dumont
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Jacobs
authors: Véronique
authors: V
authors: Turcotte
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Turcotte
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017047:Cost Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics*; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D012424:Rural Population