Evaluation of a Community-Based Cancer Patient Management Program: Collaboration between a Hospice Center and Public Health Centers.
- Author:
Hae Sook LEE
1
;
Sun Hee PARK
;
Young Soon CHUNG
;
Bookyung LEE
;
So Hi KWON
Author Information
1. Hospice Center, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Home care services;
Community networks;
Hospices;
Neoplasms;
Public health;
Referral and consultation
- MeSH:
Anorexia;
Caregivers;
Community Networks;
Cooperative Behavior;
Counseling;
Health Promotion;
Home Care Services;
Hospices;
Humans;
Medical Records;
Public Health;
Referral and Consultation;
Terminal Care
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2010;13(4):216-224
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a community-based cancer patient management program (CBPCMP) which was collaborated between a hospice center and public health centers. METHODS: The CBPCMP proceeded on four steps; 1) Signing agreements with three public health centers, 2) Enrolling the domiciliary terminal cancer patients, 3) Providing home hospice service, and 4) Inquiring patient's level of satisfaction. From February 1 to December 31 in 2009, 43 terminal cancer patients were referred and provided with home hospice service. The hospice team made a total of 605 visits. Medical records for each visit and data from satisfaction surveys were analyzed. RESULTS: 76.7% of patients were older than 60 years, and 90.7% of the patients were alert. The level of functional status for 76.7% of patients rated as lower than ECOG grade 1. 62.8% of the patients or their caregivers signed hospice service agreements. On the initial evaluation, the most frequent reasons for referral were general weakness (86.0%), followed by anorexia (72.1%). Nurses visited the patients' most frequently (371 visits), followed by volunteers (216 visits). Nurses provided emotional support and health promotion counseling on 95.1% and 22.9% of visits, respectively. The mean satisfaction score rated by patients and their family was 4.45 out of 5. CONCLUSION: This study tested CBPCMP in collaboration with hospice centers and public health centers. CBPCMP showed a possibility to improve the quality of end of life care. To insure the quality care, however, the guidelines for home hospice service should be developed.
