A Retrospective Study between Pre- and Post-Introduction of Narcotic Drugs of Palliative Care for Cancer Patients at the Long-term Care Unit
10.2512/jspm.11.109
- VernacularTitle:医療用麻薬導入前後での療養病棟におけるがん緩和ケアの実態調査
- Author:
Maki Murakami
;
Keiko Oishi
;
Susumu Arai
;
Munehiro Shimada
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
long-term care unit;
palliative care;
narcotic drugs
- From:Palliative Care Research
2016;11(1):109-115
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the palliative care for cancer patients provided by a long-term care unit. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 194 patients who hospitalized in our long-term care unit between April 2010 and December 2014. The patients shared with a group of two, narcotic drugs non-use period (previous group; until March 2012) and narcotics use period (later group; in April 2012 or later), and it was compared with a background, hospitalization period, result on discharge, narcotic drug administration, symptom relief. And it was surveyed hospitalization dynamics of our palliative care unit for comparison. Result: Cancer patients were 16 (22%) in previous group of 74 patients and were 79 (66%) in later group of 120. The proportion of cancer patients in later group increased to three times (p<0.001). In later group, the average hospital stay was shortened to half (144 days, p<0.01) and the mortality discharge rates increased (78%, p<0.05). Narcotic drugs were administered to more than half (57%) of cancer patients in later group, and pain relief was significantly better. In the period of later group, number of hospitalized patients in palliative care unit was also increased. Conclusion: It was suggested that the long-term unit can perform palliative care for cancer patients in cooperation with the palliative care unit.
