Factors affecting the place of death among hospice home care cancer patients in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Some patients who receive hospice home care still end up dying in hospital. The significance of the variables possibly affecting the place of death in patients with terminal cancer who received hospice home care was examined. METHODS: Retrospective study. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-nine patients were enrolled in this study. In all, 60.8% of the patients died at home and 39.2% of the patients died in hospital. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that preferred place of death was the prior factor associated with home death, followed by average days of rehospitalization, education level, distance between home and hospital, and age. CONCLUSIONS: For a better hospice care service, it is essential to inquire patients or their relatives on preferred place of death while concerning the influences of other factors.