title: Factors associated with fulfilling the preference for dying at home among cancer patients: the role of general practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore clinical and care-related factors associated with fulfilling cancer patients' preference for home death across four countries: Belgium (BE), The Netherlands (NL), Italy (IT), and Spain (ES).
  
  
  METHODS
  A mortality follow-back study was undertaken from 2009 to 2011 via representative networks of general practitioners (GPs). The study included all patients aged 18 and over who had died of cancer and whose home death preference and place of death were known by the GP. Factors associated with meeting home death preference were tested using multivariable logistic regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 2,048 deceased patients, preferred and actual place of death was known in 42.6 percent of cases. Home death preference met ranged from 65.5 to 90.9 percent. Country-specific factors included older age in BE, and decision-making capacity and being female in the NL. GPs' provision of palliative care was positively associated with meeting home death preference. Odds ratios (ORs) were: BE: 9.9 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] 3.7-26.6); NL: 9.7 (2.4-39.9); and IT: 2.6 (1.2-5.5). ORs for Spain are not shown because a multivariate model was not performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those who develop policy to facilitate home death need to examine available resources for primary end-of-life care.
authors.forename: Winne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miccinesi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beccaro
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreels
authors.forename: Gé A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Donker
authors.forename: Bregje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Onwuteaka-Philipsen
authors.forename: Tomás V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deliens
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van den Block
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D013030:Spain; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data