Hospice Utilization During the SARS Outbreak in Taiwan
Author Information
Author(s): Chen Tzeng-Ji, Lin Ming-Hwai, Chou Li-Fang, Hwang Shinn-Jang
Primary Institution: Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Hypothesis
How did hospice inpatient utilization change during and after the SARS epidemic in Taiwan?
Conclusion
Hospice inpatient utilization in Taiwan was more sensitive to the SARS epidemic than general inpatient utilization.
Supporting Evidence
- Hospice utilization decreased by 52.5% in May 2003 compared to the previous year.
- Only 15 hospice wards operated throughout 2002 and 2003.
- The recovery of hospice utilization took three months longer than general hospital bed utilization.
Takeaway
During the SARS outbreak, fewer people used hospice services because they were scared. It took a long time for the number of patients to go back to normal.
Methodology
The study analyzed inpatient admission data from the National Health Insurance Research Database for 2002 and 2003, comparing hospice utilization before and after the SARS epidemic.
Potential Biases
The study relied on claims data, which may not fully capture the reasons for decreased hospice utilization.
Limitations
The study could not determine whether the decrease in hospice utilization was due to patients' voluntary decisions or hospital policies.
Participant Demographics
The study included hospice patients admitted during May/June 2002 and 2003, with no significant differences in gender, age, or diagnosis distributions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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