Table 4 Seven most frequently reported reasons for referral and problems identified by PCCT, by subgroup of decedents patients referred more than 30 days or less than 7 days before death
Patients referred < 7 days before death (n = 198) | Patients vu > 30 days before death (n = 171) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reasons for referral | |||||
n | (%) | n | (%) | ||
Pain | 79 | (39,9) | Pain | 97 | (56,7) |
Dyspnea/cough/sputum | 53 | (26,8) | Early encounter | 52 | (30,4) |
Decision to withhold or withdraw treatments | 45 | (22,7) | Choice of drug/change in the drug dosage or the route of administration | 25 | (14,6) |
Decision for place of care | 44 | (22,2) | Dyspnea/cough/sputum | 19 | (11,1) |
Choice of drug/change in the drug dosage or the route of administration | 33 | (16,7) | Decision for place of care | 18 | (10,5) |
Early encounter | 31 | (15,7) | Decision to withhold or withdraw treatments | 17 | (9,9) |
Anxiety/depression/emotional burden/grief, as a family issue | 24 | (12,1) | Anxiety/depression/emotional distress | 15 | (8,8) |
Problems identified by PCCT | |||||
Pain | 104 | (52,5) | Pain | 94 | (55,0) |
Dyspnea/cough/sputum | 87 | (43,9) | Fatigue | 68 | (39,8) |
Decision to withhold or withdraw treatments | 59 | (29,8) | Early encounter | 59 | (34,5) |
Choice of drug/change in the drug dosage or the route of administration | 59 | (29,8) | Anxiety/depression/emotional distress | 51 | (29,8) |
Anxiety/depression/emotional burden/grief, as a family issue | 56 | (28,3) | Appetite loss / difficulty of oral intake | 49 | (28,7) |
Fatigue | 54 | (27,3) | Choice of drug/change in the drug dosage or the route of administration | 43 | (25,1) |
Anxiety/depression/emotional distress | 50 | (25,3) | Anxiety/depression/emotional burden/grief, as a family issue | 38 | (22,2 |