BACKGROUND: General Practitioners (GPs) are at the first level of contact in many European healthcare systems and they supposedly have a role in supporting cancer patients in achieving their desired place of death. A four-country (Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain) study was carried out exploring current practices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EURO SENTI-MELC adopted a retrospective study design and data for this study were collected in 2010 through representative GPs' networks in four countries. In the current study all non-sudden cancer deaths were included with weekly GP registrations. RESULTS: The main study sample included 930 deceased cancer patients: preference for place of death was known by GPs for only 377. GP awareness on the preferred place of death varied across countries, 27% in Italy, 36% in Spain, 45% in Belgium and 72% in the Netherlands (p<0.01). The general level of preferences met was high, from 68% (Italy) to 92% (Spain). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the importance of being able to die in a preferred location, GPs were often unaware about patient preferences, especially in Italy and Spain. If GPs were informed, the preference was often met in all countries, indicating room for improvement in end-of-life care.
BACKGROUND: General Practitioners (GPs) are at the first level of contact in many European healthcare systems and they supposedly have a role in supporting cancerpatients in achieving their desired place of death. A four-country (Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain) study was carried out exploring current practices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EURO SENTI-MELC adopted a retrospective study design and data for this study were collected in 2010 through representative GPs' networks in four countries. In the current study all non-sudden cancer deaths were included with weekly GP registrations. RESULTS: The main study sample included 930 deceased cancerpatients: preference for place of death was known by GPs for only 377. GP awareness on the preferred place of death varied across countries, 27% in Italy, 36% in Spain, 45% in Belgium and 72% in the Netherlands (p<0.01). The general level of preferences met was high, from 68% (Italy) to 92% (Spain). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the importance of being able to die in a preferred location, GPs were often unaware about patient preferences, especially in Italy and Spain. If GPs were informed, the preference was often met in all countries, indicating room for improvement in end-of-life care.
Authors: Thijs Reyniers; Dirk Houttekier; H Roeline Pasman; Robert Vander Stichele; Joachim Cohen; Luc Deliens Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2014 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Annicka G M van der Plas; Kris C Vissers; Anneke L Francke; Gé A Donker; Wim J J Jansen; Luc Deliens; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Maaike L De Roo; Guido Miccinesi; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen; Nele Van Den Noortgate; Lieve Van den Block; Andrea Bonacchi; Gé A Donker; Jose E Lozano Alonso; Sarah Moreels; Luc Deliens; Anneke L Francke Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-08 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Eduardo Garralda; Jeroen Hasselaar; José Miguel Carrasco; Karen Van Beek; Naouma Siouta; Agnes Csikos; Johan Menten; Carlos Centeno Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2016-05-13 Impact factor: 3.234
Authors: Mariska Oosterveld-Vlug; Gé Donker; Femke Atsma; Linda Brom; Yvonne de Man; Stef Groenewoud; Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-09-22 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Ian Koper; H Roeline W Pasman; Annicka G M Van der Plas; Bart P M Schweitzer; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2019-08-03 Impact factor: 2.497