Authors: UllaKaija Lammi Elise Kosunen Pirkko KellokumpuLehtinen
Publish Date: 2014/02/09
Volume: 9, Issue: 1, Pages: 25-31
Abstract
This study evaluates palliative treatment of inpatient cancer patients in two health centres and in one hospice in Finland Apart from outpatient clinics health centres in Finland also have inpatient wards where patients are treated by GPs The hospice provides a homelike environment for terminal patients who are cared for by a specialist in internal medicine Our patient population comprised 36 health centre patients and 36 hospice patients enrolled in 1998 A structured questionnaire was used containing information on diagnosis duration of the illness current medication daily activities and socioeconomic background The nurses assessed their patients emotional needs We found that the two groups of patients were similar in terms of gender marital status and social situation The hospice patients were significantly younger P005 and better educated than the health centre patients P=0001 and their disease had lasted longer P005 Upon admission 12 33 of the hospice patients were using opioids as were 6 patients 17 in the health centre group During the treatment period in the hospice the nurses reported more anxiety and depression in their patients P005 staff in the health centres were more often unable to report on their patients feelings Hospice patients 20/35 were significantly P0001 more concerned about the wellbeing of their relatives than patients in the health centres 2/35 In the hospice 18 patients 50 showed significantly P0001 more spiritual needs than health centre patients 4/34 We conclude that more education is needed to improve the awareness of the multidimensional needs of terminally ill cancer patients in primary health care
Keywords: