Linked Life Data

2617709

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/2617709

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-3-7
pubmed:abstractText
Treatment and care of terminal cancer patients are conducted in different ways, according to the cultural, social, political and economical situations of the countries which have progressively adopted and developed them. In Italy there are no specialized structures such as "hospices" or the "palliative care units" like in the Anglo-Saxon world: the care of terminal cancer patients is carried out either in a general hospital or at their own home. In Milan and elsewhere there are home care teams in which doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers, all work in connection with hospital structures. In this way, patients can receive specialized care for physical, psychological and social problems at home too. To evaluate costs and effectiveness of this program, a comparison was made between the home care and the conventional treatment carried out in general hospitals. Two groups of thirty terminal cancer patients have been studied: the first group was composed of hospital patients in Desio and the second one included patients cared for by the home care service organized by the Floriani Foundation and the Italian League against Cancer (Milan Section). We evaluated intensity and duration of pain, hours of sleep and hours of standing, sitting and lying, presence of side-effects, performance status and therapies. Data were also collected on the quality of life (Spitzer QLI), social and economical needs of the patients, type and quality of care, degree of awareness of the diagnosis by the patient and the family. This data were collected by the nurse who looked after the patient. Care costs were also quantified. The comparison between the two groups significantly favours the home care group as shown by the performance status after 2 weeks of care, the "health scale" and the Total index of the Spitzer QLI and in general the greater satisfaction of the care received. Home care produces results equivalent to those achieved in hospitals as far as clinical parameters are concerned. An approximate quantification of the costs shows that an average cost for a day's home care was about Lit. 52,500 as compared with Lit. 360,000 for a day's hospitalization.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0300-8916
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
31
pubmed:volume
75
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
619-25
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-12-12
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Comparison of home and hospital care of advanced cancer patients.
pubmed:affiliation
Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Division, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study