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Table 1 Structurally vulnerable participants’ characteristics (n = 25)

From: “Just too busy living in the moment and surviving”: barriers to accessing health care for structurally vulnerable populations at end-of-life

Characteristic

Number of Participants

Gender

 Men

16

 Women

9

Age a

 Average age

59

 Age range

19–81

Ethnicity b

 White

13

 Indigenous

8

 African Canadian

1

Sexual orientation b

 Heterosexual

20

 Gay/Lesbian

2

Relationship status b

 Single

8

 Married or living in common law relationship

3

 Divorced or separated

9

 Widowed

2

Highest level of education a

 University

2

 College diploma

1

 Some college (including trade school)

4

 High school

6

 Some high school

4

 Middle school (grade 8)

2

 Elementary school or less

2

Housing type on entry of the study

 Social or public housing

11

 Market rental (with roommates and/or financial supplements)

8

 Transitional housing (incl. Hotel/motel)

2

 Homeless (e.g., shelter, boat, hospital, etc.)

4

Main source of incomea

 Provincial Disability Benefit

13

 Pension

6

 Social assistance

1

 Employment Insurance Benefit

1

Primary life-limiting condition of concern

 Cancer

15

 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

2

 Diabetes

3

 Unknown c

5

Other health conditions

 Arthritis

10

 Cardiovascular disease

6

 HIV/AIDS

2

 Hepatitis C

6

Mental health status

 Self-reported mental illness

7

 Mental illness identified by health service provider (including undiagnosed but suspected)

7

Access to health care

 Had regular medical doctor

23

Care sites most commonly accessed

 Primary care clinic

18

 Other medical clinic/hospital

7

Access to palliative care d

 Over 2 weeks of palliative care

5

 2 weeks and under of palliative care

5

 No access to palliative care

3

Deaths

 Number of deaths during study period

13

Place of death

 Home

8

 --supported housing

6

 --market housing

2

 In-patient palliative care unit

5

Accompaniment at death

 Alone

5

 With family member

6

 With service provider

2

  1. aBased on 21 participants. Three structurally vulnerable participants engaged in observations but died prior to completing a demographic form. One participant did not answer this question
  2. bBased on 22 participants. Three structurally vulnerable participants engaged in observations but died prior to completing a demographic form
  3. cFive participants were not identified (either self or by service providers) as living with a life-limiting condition
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BMC Palliative Care

ISSN: 1472-684X

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