Table 3.
Demographic and clinical variables and mean Family Assessment of Treatment at the End of Life (FATE) survey scores.*
| Number (%) | Overall FATE Score | Management of Symptoms Domain Score | Care at Time of Death Domain Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 43 (74) | 63 | 34 | 67 |
| Female | 15 (26) | 62 | 20 | 62 |
|
| ||||
| Age at death (years) | ||||
| <60 | 21 (36) | 65 | 31 | 75 |
| 60–69 | 15 (26) | 62 | 33 | 65 |
| 70–79 | 12 (21) | 60 | 29 | 53 |
| >80 | 10 (17) | 60 | 28 | 63 |
|
| ||||
| Smoking status | ||||
| Never | 12 (21) | 66 | 29 | 71 |
| Current | 15 (26) | 63 | 42 | 67 |
| Former | 31 (53) | 60 | 26 | 63 |
|
| ||||
| Alcohol consumption (>2 drinks/week) | ||||
| Never | 26 (45) | 63 | 29 | 66 |
| Current | 8 (14) | 63 | 47 | 64 |
| Former | 24 (41) | 62 | 27 | 66 |
|
| ||||
| Primary site | ||||
| Oral cavity | 15 (26) | 60 | 18 | 60 |
| Pharynx | 22 (38) | 60 | 37 | 63 |
| Glottis | 14 (24) | 64 | 30 | 71 |
| Other | 7 (12) | 71 | 36 | 76 |
|
| ||||
| Tumor stage at diagnosis | ||||
| 1–2 | 11 (19) | 60 | 20 | 59 |
| 3–4 | 47 (81) | 63 | 33 | 67 |
|
| ||||
| T grading at diagnosis | ||||
| 1–2 | 18 (31) | 60 | 24 | 60 |
| 3–4 | 37 (69) | 62 | 32 | 66 |
|
| ||||
| Disease status at death | ||||
| Locoregional disease | 32 (55) | 62 | 34 | 65 |
| Distant metastasis | 20 (34) | 63 | 39 | 72 |
| No evidence of disease | 5 (9) | 67 (p=.99)* | 25 (p=.41)* | 74 (p=.41)* |
|
| ||||
| Initial treatment | ||||
| Surgery | 21 (36) | 62 | 25 | 63 |
| Radiation | 36 (62) | 63 | 33 | 67 |
| Chemotherapy | 33 (57) | 62 | 34 | 68 |
|
| ||||
| Adjuvant treatment | ||||
| None | 41 (71) | 63 | 32 | 67 |
| Radiation | 17 (29) | 61 | 28 | 63 |
| Chemotherapy | 6 (10) | 73 | 46 | 67 |
|
| ||||
| Salvage treatment | ||||
| None | 32 (55) | 61 | 28 | 66 |
| Surgery | 25 (43) | 64 | 35 | 66 |
| Radiation/Chemotherapy | 1 (2) | 62 | 0 | 50 |
|
| ||||
| Palliative treatment | ||||
| None | 26 (45) | 59 | 20 | 56 |
| Radiation | 13 (22) | 59 | 33 | 74 |
| Chemotherapy | 26 (45) | 67 (p=.11)** | 40 (p=.011)** | 76 (p=.017)** |
|
| ||||
| Location of Death | ||||
| Home | 28 (48) | 67 | 37 | 77 |
| Hospital | 18 (31) | 55 | 21 | 44 |
| Inpatient hospice | 32 (55) | 67 (p=.023)*** | 34 (p=.026)*** | 82 (p<.0001)*** |
|
| ||||
| Palliative care involvement | ||||
| No | 18 (31) | 57 | 29 | 41 |
| Yes | 40 (69) | 65 (p=.16) | 31 (p=.75) | 77 (p<.0001) |
|
| ||||
| Advanced directive | ||||
| No | 6 (10) | 64 | 38 | 40 |
| Yes | 52 (90) | 62 | 30 | 69 |
|
| ||||
| Do not resuscitate status | ||||
| No | 14 (24) | 62 | 30 | 45 |
| Yes | 44 (76) | 63 | 31 | 72 |
|
| ||||
| Bleeding during last month of life | ||||
| No | 15 (26) | 62 | 30 | 63 |
| Yes | 43 (74) | 63 (p=.64) | 31 (p=.91) | 75 (.15) |
*
Compares scores between locoregional disease and distant metastasis.
**
Compares scores between palliative treatment vs. any palliative treatment (XRT and/or Chemo)
***
Compares scores between hospital and home/hospice