• D Davison, G Johnston, P Reilly, and M Stevenson.
• Department of General Practice, Dunluce Health Centre, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. d.n.davison@qub.ac.uk
• Ir J Med Sci. 2001 Jan 1; 170 (1): 18-23.

BackgroundMost patients with cancer prefer to die at home but the majority die in institutions.AimTo determine place of death for patients with cancer in Belfast, to examine changes over time and identify factors associated with place of death.MethodsA survey of deaths registered in Belfast over a six-month period for 1977, 1987 and 1997 identified patients dying from cancer. Epidemiological data included age, gender, malignancy, social class, marital status, area of residence and place of death.ResultsHome deaths fell from 35% in 1977 to 28% in 1997. Hospital deaths fell from 50% in 1977 to 40% in 1987 rising to 42% in 1997. Hospice deaths rose from 13% in 1977 to 25% in 1987 falling to 23% in 1997. There was an association between place of death and age, marital status, type of cancer and area of residence, but not with social class or gender.ConclusionThe majority of people fail to achieve a home death. Resources need to be targeted to those most at risk of an institutional death; females, the elderly, the unmarried, those with haematological malignancies and residents of South Belfast.

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