Identifying the palliative care needs of frail, older, housebound patients in the community: A cross-sectional study.
Palliat Support Care
; : 1-8, 2023 Feb 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36803464
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The early introduction of palliative care can have a positive impact on the quality of life of patients suffering from life-limiting diseases. However, the palliative care needs of older, frail, housebound patients are still mostly unknown, as is the impact of frailty on the importance of these needs.OBJECTIVES:
To identify the palliative care needs of frail, older, housebound patients in the community.METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional observational study. This study took place in a single primary care center and included patients who were ≥65 years old, housebound, followed by the Geriatric Community Unit of the Geneva University Hospitals.RESULTS:
Seventy-one patients completed the study. Most patients were female (56.9%), and mean age (SD) was 81.1 (±7.9). The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale mean (SD) score was higher in frail patients as opposed to vulnerable patients for tiredness (p = 0.016), drowsiness (p = 0.0196), loss of appetite (p = 0.0124), and impaired feeling of well-being (p = 0.0132). There was no difference in spiritual well-being, measured by the spiritual scale subgroup of the Functional Assessment of the Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being scale (FACIT-sp) between frail and vulnerable participants, although scores in both groups were low. Caregivers were mainly spouses (45%) and daughters (27.5%) with a mean (SD) age of 70.7 (±13.6). The overall carer-burden measured by the Mini-Zarit was low. SIGNIFICANCE OFRESULTS:
Older, frail, housebound patients have specific needs that differ from non-frail patients and should guide future palliative care provision. How and when palliative care should be provided to this population remains to be determined.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Language:
En
Journal:
Palliat Support Care
Journal subject:
TERAPEUTICA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Switzerland
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM