Table 2.
Outcome | Non-Hospice (n = 278) |
Hospice (n = 208) |
Hospice, Too Late (n = 33) |
Adjusted Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval)* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overall problem score, mean (range 0–8)† | 1.2 | 0.74 | 2.7 | 0.49 (0.33–0.74) |
Components of the problem score, % with component | ||||
Unmet need for management of pain | 11.7 | 7.0 | 28.6 | 0.51 (0.18–1.45) |
Unmet need for management of dyspnea | 19.1 | 6.1 | 31.3 | 0.22 (0.10–0.54) |
Patient was always treated with respect | 81.6 | 79.9 | 57.6 | 1.00 (0.62–1.57) |
Family wanted more information on what to expect while patient was dying | 22.5 | 11.1 | 48.5 | 0.41 (0.23–0.70) |
Family wanted more information regarding how pain was managed | 16.9 | 8.1 | 31.8 | 0.54 (0.29–1.00) |
Family wanted more information on what to do at time of death | 25.1 | 11.8 | 51.5 | 0.34 (0.23–0.53) |
Family wanted more help regarding spiritual and religious concerns | 10.6 | 7.3 | 21.2 | 0.64 (0.37–1.10) |
Family wanted more emotional support regarding their grief before patient’s death | 22.7 | 14.0 | 43.8 | 0.50 (0.36–0.70) |
Rating of quality of care, mean‡ | 31.6 | 34.3 | 25.4 | 2.30 (1.69–3.13) |
Provided medical care that respected medical wishes, % | 8.2 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 1.94 (1.48–2.57) |
Symptoms were controlled to desired level, % | 8.2 | 8.7 | 6.6 | 1.54 (1.10–2.15) |
Emotional support provided to patient and family, % | 7.4 | 8.1 | 5.5 | 2.00 (1.36–2.83) |
Communicate with family about medical condition, % | 7.7 | 8.5 | 5.8 | 2.30 (1.59–3.34) |
Peacefulness of dying (1 = very much at peace, 10 = very much not at peace) | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.51 (0.35–0.74) |
Quality of dying (1 = a very poor death, 10 = a very good death) | 8.4 | 8.9 | 7.5 | 1.68 (1.11–2.56) |
Results compare persons receiving hospice at the right time with those who did not receive hospice after adjusting for state, age, sex, race, respondent relationship, and years of education.
Overall problem score is based on 8 items that measure whether the family member had a concern with the quality of care or an unmet need.
Based on four items that ask the respondent to rate care between 0 (the worst care) and 10 (the best care). The four items are added to create a score between 0 and 40.