Bich-Lien Nguyen1,2,3, Dominique Tremblay4,5, Luc Mathieu4,6, Danielle Groleau7,8. 1. School of Nursing, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. Bich.lien.nguyen@usherbrooke.ca. 2. CSSS Champlain-Charles-Le Moyne, Greenfield Park, Québec, Canada. Bich.lien.nguyen@usherbrooke.ca. 3. Charles-Le Moyne Hospital Research Centre, Longueuil, Canada. Bich.lien.nguyen@usherbrooke.ca. 4. School of Nursing, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. 5. Charles-Le Moyne Hospital Research Centre, Longueuil, Canada. 6. Research Centre on Aging-CSSS-IUGS, Sherbrooke, Canada. 7. Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Québec, Canada. 8. Culture and Mental Health Research Unit, Lady Davis Medical Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE: When dealing with health issues, older cancer patients are likely to visit emergency rooms (ER), which are known to expose these patients to the risk of adverse outcomes. Little is known about the profile and reasons for such visits. The aim of this study is (1) to describe the profile of elderly cancer patients aged 70 years and older who visited the ER of a regional hospital in Québec, Canada, and (2) to explain the medical reasons and factors determining such visits from the patients' perspective. METHODS: A concurrent mixed method design was used. Descriptive analysis of administrative databases was conducted to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, and service utilization profile of 792 cancer patients aged 70 years and older. Content analysis of 11 semi-structured interviews of a sub-sample was subsequently performed to better understand the experience and meaning these patients attribute to this health behaviour. RESULTS: The sample of 792 older cancer patients made a total of 1572 ER visits. Most visits occurred during the daytime. More than half (53 %) of the patients were discharged, and close to 40 % were hospitalized. The most frequent reasons for consulting were respiratory (15.8 %), digestive (13.4 %), neurological (8.3 %), fever or infection-related (8.3 %), and cardiovascular (8.2 %). Content analysis of the qualitative data suggested that patients made ER visits mostly when other cancer care services were unavailable or because of a serious life-threatening health condition. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests areas of improvement to prevent ER visits when health issues can be addressed by other care services.
PURPOSE: When dealing with health issues, older cancerpatients are likely to visit emergency rooms (ER), which are known to expose these patients to the risk of adverse outcomes. Little is known about the profile and reasons for such visits. The aim of this study is (1) to describe the profile of elderly cancerpatients aged 70 years and older who visited the ER of a regional hospital in Québec, Canada, and (2) to explain the medical reasons and factors determining such visits from the patients' perspective. METHODS: A concurrent mixed method design was used. Descriptive analysis of administrative databases was conducted to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, and service utilization profile of 792 cancerpatients aged 70 years and older. Content analysis of 11 semi-structured interviews of a sub-sample was subsequently performed to better understand the experience and meaning these patients attribute to this health behaviour. RESULTS: The sample of 792 older cancerpatients made a total of 1572 ER visits. Most visits occurred during the daytime. More than half (53 %) of the patients were discharged, and close to 40 % were hospitalized. The most frequent reasons for consulting were respiratory (15.8 %), digestive (13.4 %), neurological (8.3 %), fever or infection-related (8.3 %), and cardiovascular (8.2 %). Content analysis of the qualitative data suggested that patients made ER visits mostly when other cancer care services were unavailable or because of a serious life-threatening health condition. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests areas of improvement to prevent ER visits when health issues can be addressed by other care services.
Authors: M T E Puts; J Monette; V Girre; C Wolfson; M Monette; G Batist; H Bergman Journal: Crit Rev Oncol Hematol Date: 2009-11-24 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Lise Fillion; Sandra Cook; Anne-Marie Veillette; Marie de Serres; Michèle Aubin; François Rainville; Margaret Fitch; Richard Doll Journal: Can Oncol Nurs J Date: 2012