Palliative care need screening and specialised referrals fell during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide register-based study
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Palliative care need screening and specialised referrals fell during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide register-based study. / Hansen, Maiken Bang Bang; Groenvold, Mogens; Adsersen, Mathilde; Jensen, Henry; Ibfelt, Else Helene; Petersen, Morten Aagaard; Neergaard, Mette Asbjørn; Møller, Henrik; Olesen, Tina Bech.
In: BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2024, p. :e1380–e1387.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - Palliative care need screening and specialised referrals fell during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide register-based study
AU - Hansen, Maiken Bang Bang
AU - Groenvold, Mogens
AU - Adsersen, Mathilde
AU - Jensen, Henry
AU - Ibfelt, Else Helene
AU - Petersen, Morten Aagaard
AU - Neergaard, Mette Asbjørn
AU - Møller, Henrik
AU - Olesen, Tina Bech
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Objectives Few studies have examined whether access to, and quality of, specialised palliative care changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated changes in access to and quality of specialised palliative care during the pandemic in Denmark compared to previously.Methods An observational study using data from the Danish Palliative Care Database combined with other nationwide registries was conducted, including 69 696 patients referred to palliative care services in Denmark from 2018 to 2022. Study outcomes included number of referrals and admissions to palliative care, and the proportions of patients fulfilling four palliative care quality indicators. The indicators assessed admissions among referred, waiting time from referral to admission, symptom screening using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionaire-Core-15-Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) questionnaire at admission, and discussion at multidisciplinary conference. Logistic regression analysed whether the probability of fulfilling each indicator differed between the pandemic period and pre-pandemic, while adjusting for possible confounders.Result Number of referrals and admissions to specialised palliative care were lower during the pandemic. The odds for being admitted within 10 days of referral was higher during the pandemic (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.32 to 1.45) whereas the odds for answering the EORTC questionnaire (0.88; 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.92) and for being discussed at multidisciplinary conference (0.93; 95% CI: 0.89 to 0.97) were lower compared with pre-pandemic.Conclusions Fewer patients were referred to specialised palliative care during the pandemic, and fewer were screened for palliative care needs. In future pandemics or similar scenarios, it is important to pay special attention to referral rates and to maintain the same high level of specialised palliative care.
AB - Objectives Few studies have examined whether access to, and quality of, specialised palliative care changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated changes in access to and quality of specialised palliative care during the pandemic in Denmark compared to previously.Methods An observational study using data from the Danish Palliative Care Database combined with other nationwide registries was conducted, including 69 696 patients referred to palliative care services in Denmark from 2018 to 2022. Study outcomes included number of referrals and admissions to palliative care, and the proportions of patients fulfilling four palliative care quality indicators. The indicators assessed admissions among referred, waiting time from referral to admission, symptom screening using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionaire-Core-15-Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) questionnaire at admission, and discussion at multidisciplinary conference. Logistic regression analysed whether the probability of fulfilling each indicator differed between the pandemic period and pre-pandemic, while adjusting for possible confounders.Result Number of referrals and admissions to specialised palliative care were lower during the pandemic. The odds for being admitted within 10 days of referral was higher during the pandemic (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.32 to 1.45) whereas the odds for answering the EORTC questionnaire (0.88; 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.92) and for being discussed at multidisciplinary conference (0.93; 95% CI: 0.89 to 0.97) were lower compared with pre-pandemic.Conclusions Fewer patients were referred to specialised palliative care during the pandemic, and fewer were screened for palliative care needs. In future pandemics or similar scenarios, it is important to pay special attention to referral rates and to maintain the same high level of specialised palliative care.
U2 - 10.1136/spcare-2023-004324
DO - 10.1136/spcare-2023-004324
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37098445
VL - 14
SP - :e1380–e1387
JO - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
JF - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
SN - 2045-435X
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 345332182