An investigation into the use of palliative care services by patients with prostate cancer

Abstract

The use of palliative services by prostate cancer patients was assessed in relation to other cancer patients and as a proportion of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Retrospective analysis of palliative care referral and inpatient and outpatient activity was undertaken in respect to patients with nine types of cancer. A cohort of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993 was followed for five years. The records of those that died during this period were reviewed to confirm if they had received hospice care. Of the 118 men dying of prostate cancer, 25.4 percent used hospice services, 23 percent used the hospice at home services (for an average of 68.8 days), while 7 percent used day-care services (for an average of 8.25 days). Prostate cancer patients formed the third largest cancer referral group to hospital-based palliative care services (9.5 percent). They had the third longest survival time from referral (3.8 months) and the oldest average age of death of any group. Lower than average inpatient stays, coupled with the highest average length of stay, led to the third highest use of inpatient services by patients with prostate cancer. We concluded that the morbidity from prostate cancer leads to a high use of palliative services. This significant use of resources should be included in comparisons assessing and planning health care strategies for prostate cancer.