UNLABELLED: Despite aggressive multimodality treatment the prognosis of patients with primary brain tumors (BT) remains poor. At present, there are no data about the role of palliative home-care services and their impact on quality of care. We report the results of a pilot project of palliative home care for BT patients started in 2000 in the National Cancer Institute Regina Elena of Rome. We report also the result of a cost/effectiveness analysis utilizing administrative data on re-hospitalization rate in the last two months of life. METHODS: Since October 2000 until December 2009, 572 patients have been followed by our home care staff. Among 394 patients who died, 276 (70%) were followed at home until death. A cost/effectiveness analysis was carried out evaluating the rehospitalization rate in the last 2 months of life in a subgroup of patients (group 1 assisted at home, 72 patients; group 2 not assisted at home, 71). The number of hospital readmission in the last 2 months of life, and length and cost of hospitalization were retrospectively analyzed from hospital discharge records. RESULTS: Hospitalization rate of group 1 (16.7%) was lower than group 2 (38%) (95% CI: 0.18-0.65, p = 0.001). Costs of hospitalization also differed substantially: 517 Euros (95% CI: 512-522) in group 1 vs 24, 076 Euros (95%: 24,040-24,112 Euros) in group 2. CONCLUSION: Home-care may represent an alternative to in-hospital care for the management of brain tumor patients and may improve the end-of-life quality of care.
UNLABELLED: Despite aggressive multimodality treatment the prognosis of patients with primary brain tumors (BT) remains poor. At present, there are no data about the role of palliative home-care services and their impact on quality of care. We report the results of a pilot project of palliative home care for BT patients started in 2000 in the National Cancer Institute Regina Elena of Rome. We report also the result of a cost/effectiveness analysis utilizing administrative data on re-hospitalization rate in the last two months of life. METHODS: Since October 2000 until December 2009, 572 patients have been followed by our home care staff. Among 394 patients who died, 276 (70%) were followed at home until death. A cost/effectiveness analysis was carried out evaluating the rehospitalization rate in the last 2 months of life in a subgroup of patients (group 1 assisted at home, 72 patients; group 2 not assisted at home, 71). The number of hospital readmission in the last 2 months of life, and length and cost of hospitalization were retrospectively analyzed from hospital discharge records. RESULTS: Hospitalization rate of group 1 (16.7%) was lower than group 2 (38%) (95% CI: 0.18-0.65, p = 0.001). Costs of hospitalization also differed substantially: 517 Euros (95% CI: 512-522) in group 1 vs 24, 076 Euros (95%: 24,040-24,112 Euros) in group 2. CONCLUSION: Home-care may represent an alternative to in-hospital care for the management of brain tumorpatients and may improve the end-of-life quality of care.
Authors: Rifaquat Rahman; Paul J Catalano; David A Reardon; Andrew D Norden; Patrick Y Wen; Eudocia Q Lee; Lakshmi Nayak; Rameen Beroukhim; Ian F Dunn; Alexandra J Golby; Mark D Johnson; E Antonio Chiocca; Elizabeth B Claus; Brian M Alexander; Nils D Arvold Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2015-06-02 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: Eefje M Sizoo; H Roeline W Pasman; Linda Dirven; Christine Marosi; Wolfgang Grisold; Günther Stockhammer; Jonas Egeter; Robin Grant; Susan Chang; Jan J Heimans; Luc Deliens; Jaap C Reijneveld; Martin J B Taphoorn Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-12-14 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Eefje M Sizoo; Martin J B Taphoorn; Bernard Uitdehaag; Jan J Heimans; Luc Deliens; Jaap C Reijneveld; H Roeline W Pasman Journal: Oncologist Date: 2013-01-18
Authors: J A F Koekkoek; L Dirven; J C Reijneveld; E M Sizoo; H R W Pasman; T J Postma; L Deliens; R Grant; S McNamara; W Grisold; E Medicus; G Stockhammer; S Oberndorfer; B Flechl; C Marosi; M J B Taphoorn; J J Heimans Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2014-07-20 Impact factor: 4.130