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Noncomfort Medication Use in Acute Care Inpatients Comanaged by Palliative Care Specialists Near the End of Life: A Cohort Study.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2013 Oct 1;
Authors: Ma G, Downar J
Abstract
Background/ OBJECTIVE: To examine comfort medication (CM) and noncomfort (NC) medication use in inpatients comanaged by palliative care (PC) near the end of life.
METHODS: Chart review of inpatients comanaged by the PC service at 2 academic hospitals. Medications were categorized as CM and NC medication according to the published guidelines.
RESULTS: Seventy patients met inclusion criteria. In the final week of life, inpatients were receiving a mean of 6 CM (40 doses) and 7 NC medications (41 doses). Four new NC medications were started per patient, but only 3 were discontinued. The NC medications were most frequently discontinued on the day of PC consult, but 14% were stopped on the day of death/PC unit transfer.Conclusion:Inpatients comanaged by PC continue to receive NC medications as they near the end of life.
PMID: 24085312 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]