Hospital Use at the End of Life in Belgium
Author Information
Author(s): Lieve Van den Block, Reginald Deschepper, Katrien Drieskens, Sabien Bauwens, Johan Bilsen, Nathalie Bossuyt, Luc Deliens
Primary Institution: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Hypothesis
What patient, disease, and healthcare factors are associated with hospital use during the last three months of life?
Conclusion
Hospital care plays a large role in the end of patients' lives in Belgium, especially in the final weeks of life.
Supporting Evidence
- 60% of patients were hospitalised at least once in the last three months of life.
- The median length of hospital stay was 19 days.
- 72% of patients hospitalised at least once died in hospital.
Takeaway
Many people in Belgium spend their last days in the hospital, even though most would prefer to die at home. This study looks at why that happens.
Methodology
A retrospective registration study using the Belgian Sentinel Network of General Practitioners over 13 weeks in 2004.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias among GPs and the inability to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
Limitations
The study did not evaluate subjective states such as patients' quality of life or symptom burden, and it was retrospective, which could introduce recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged one year or older who died non-suddenly or expectedly.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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