Abstract
Background: General Practitioners (GPs) are at the first level of contact in many European healthcare systems and they supposedly have a role in supporting cancer patients in achieving their desired place of death. A four-country (Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain) study was carried out exploring current practices. Patients and Methods: EURO SENTI-MELC adopted a retrospective study design and data for this study were collected in 2010 through representative GPs' networks in four countries. In the current study all non-sudden cancer deaths were included with weekly GP registrations. Results: The main study sample included 930 deceased cancer patients: preference for place of death was known by GPs for only 377. GP awareness on the preferred place of death varied across countries, 27% in Italy, 36% in Spain, 45% in Belgium and 72% in the Netherlands (p <0.01). The general level of preferences met was high, from 68% (Italy) to 92% (Spain). Conclusions: Despite the importance of being able to die in a preferred location, GPs were often unaware about patient preferences, especially in Italy and Spain. If GPs were informed, the preference was often met in all countries, indicating room for improvement in end-of-life care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1967-1974 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | European Journal of Cancer |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2013 |
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Keywords
- Advanced cancer patients
- General Practitioners
- Palliative care
- Place of death
- Preference met
- Sentinel network
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology
Cite this
Awareness of general practitioners concerning cancer patients' preferences for place of death : Evidence from four European countries. / Ko, Winne; Beccaro, Monica; Miccinesi, Guido; Van Casteren, Viviane; Donker, Gé A.; Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje; Miralles Espí, María Teresa; Deliens, Luc; Costantini, Massimo; Van Den Block, Lieve.
In: European Journal of Cancer, Vol. 49, No. 8, 05.2013, p. 1967-1974.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Awareness of general practitioners concerning cancer patients' preferences for place of death
T2 - Evidence from four European countries
AU - Ko, Winne
AU - Beccaro, Monica
AU - Miccinesi, Guido
AU - Van Casteren, Viviane
AU - Donker, Gé A.
AU - Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Bregje
AU - Miralles Espí, María Teresa
AU - Deliens, Luc
AU - Costantini, Massimo
AU - Van Den Block, Lieve
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Background: General Practitioners (GPs) are at the first level of contact in many European healthcare systems and they supposedly have a role in supporting cancer patients in achieving their desired place of death. A four-country (Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain) study was carried out exploring current practices. Patients and Methods: EURO SENTI-MELC adopted a retrospective study design and data for this study were collected in 2010 through representative GPs' networks in four countries. In the current study all non-sudden cancer deaths were included with weekly GP registrations. Results: The main study sample included 930 deceased cancer patients: preference for place of death was known by GPs for only 377. GP awareness on the preferred place of death varied across countries, 27% in Italy, 36% in Spain, 45% in Belgium and 72% in the Netherlands (p <0.01). The general level of preferences met was high, from 68% (Italy) to 92% (Spain). Conclusions: Despite the importance of being able to die in a preferred location, GPs were often unaware about patient preferences, especially in Italy and Spain. If GPs were informed, the preference was often met in all countries, indicating room for improvement in end-of-life care.
AB - Background: General Practitioners (GPs) are at the first level of contact in many European healthcare systems and they supposedly have a role in supporting cancer patients in achieving their desired place of death. A four-country (Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain) study was carried out exploring current practices. Patients and Methods: EURO SENTI-MELC adopted a retrospective study design and data for this study were collected in 2010 through representative GPs' networks in four countries. In the current study all non-sudden cancer deaths were included with weekly GP registrations. Results: The main study sample included 930 deceased cancer patients: preference for place of death was known by GPs for only 377. GP awareness on the preferred place of death varied across countries, 27% in Italy, 36% in Spain, 45% in Belgium and 72% in the Netherlands (p <0.01). The general level of preferences met was high, from 68% (Italy) to 92% (Spain). Conclusions: Despite the importance of being able to die in a preferred location, GPs were often unaware about patient preferences, especially in Italy and Spain. If GPs were informed, the preference was often met in all countries, indicating room for improvement in end-of-life care.
KW - Advanced cancer patients
KW - General Practitioners
KW - Palliative care
KW - Place of death
KW - Preference met
KW - Sentinel network
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876694791&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84876694791&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.01.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.01.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 23415886
AN - SCOPUS:84876694791
VL - 49
SP - 1967
EP - 1974
JO - European Journal of Cancer
JF - European Journal of Cancer
SN - 0959-8049
IS - 8
ER -