Quality of palliative care in identified palliative care beds

Abstract

Background: Dedicated identified palliative care beds (IPCB) are unique to France. Aims: This study aimed to assess their use and advantages in a medical oncology department of a private provincial hospital. Findings: Of the last 100 patients who died in the medical oncology department, 57 had an IPCB. Those with an IPCB had a longer final hospital stay and significant advantages for them were access to pain evaluation by nurses and professional psychological support. Opioid use was higher, but not significantly so. There were no significant differences for the presence of close relatives, physiotherapy interventions, social workers or specific anti-cancer treatment in the last 15 days of life. Conclusion: This study shows some advantages for IPCB (treatment of pain, psychologist), which should be further explored. The length of the final hospital stay is controversial.