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Trends in end-of-life decisions among patients dying in a university hospital oncology ward after implantation of a palliative outpatient clinic

Abstract Background The need for high quality palliative care at end-of-life has been increasingly recognized while regional differences exist in its quality and availability. Basic palliative care is given by oncologists at any stage of the disease, but this does not cover the high need for specialized palliative care. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in end-of-life decisions among patients dying in a university hospital oncology ward before and after the implementation of a palliative outpatient clinic. Material and Methods The study population consists of all patients who died in the Kuopio University Hospital oncology ward between 1.1.2010–31.10.2011 and 1.1.2012–31.12.2018. The palliative outpatient clinic was established and set up in November - December 2011. Data on inpatient stays, cancer treatments, treatment decisions, and some background factors were retrieved from electronic records. Results The study population totaled 644 patients dying in the oncology ward at KUH (57.8% males; 42.2% females). The deaths comprise 17.2% (191/1108) of all cancer deaths in 2010–2011 and 11.1% (461/4049) in 2012–2018 in the KUH catchment area (North-Savo Health Care District). In years 2012–2018, 14.1% of patients treated at KUH oncology clinic visited the palliative outpatient clinic. The percentage of DNR (do-not-resuscitate), palliative care, and end-of-life (EOL) care decisions increased significantly in the later period. The decisions were mainly made during the last week of life. The proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy during the last two weeks of life remained stable. Conclusion The proportion of patients receiving DNR, palliative care and EOL care decisions increased after the implementation of the palliative outpatient clinic, but the decisions were still made rather late, mainly during the last days of life.