Current home palliative care for terminally ill cancer patients in Japan
10.2512/jspm.10.153
- VernacularTitle:在宅緩和ケアを受けた終末期がん患者の実態調査
- Author:
Kotaro Hashimoto
;
Kazuki Sato
;
Junko Uchiumi
;
Akira Demizu
;
Hajime Fujimoto
;
Masatoshi Morii
;
Kotomi Sasaki
;
Mitsunori Miyashita
;
Masao Suzuki
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
home care;
palliative care;
cancer patient;
terminal care
- From:Palliative Care Research
2015;10(1):153-161
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Purpose：This study investigated the current state of medical care and home palliative care for terminally ill cancer patients in Japan. Methods：We conducted a retrospective questionnaire study of 352 cancer patients who received home palliative care from 6 specialized home care clinics and discontinued home care or died from January to June in 2012. Results：The questionnaire was answered by 290 patients〔165 men（57％）, mean age：72±13 years〕who started home palliative care after completing cancer treatment. Home visits from nurses were used by 238 patients（98％）and 95 patients（39％）used home care workers. Within a month before discontinuation of home care or death, 72 patients（30％）received fluid therapy and 127 patients（52％）received strong opioids. The outcome of home palliative care was death at home in 242 patients（83％）and discontinuation of home care in 48 patients（17％）. The reason for discontinuation was family physical and mental problems or physical problems of the patient. Conclusion：This study demonstrated the current state of home palliative care by specialized home care clinics.
