Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 1997
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEvaluation of the cost of home care for terminally ill cancer patients.
The aim of this work was to carry out a cost evaluation of the home care programme for terminally ill cancer patients run by the Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo (I. O. R.) in the areas of Forlì, Cesena, Ravenna and Rimini (Romagna, Italy). ⋯ Examination of the relation between the cost of 1 week of care and KPS values clearly shows that healthcare costs increased as KPS decreased (from 152.2 Ecu with KPS > or = 60 to 292.6 Ecu with KPS < or = 20; P < 0.001). Home care costs were also seen to vary with some clinical characteristics and symptoms present when patients entered the study: asthenia, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, bedsores. Given the good results of home care for cancer patients in terms of quality of life, this method of cost accounting for home-care providers can help to monitor the rising cost of assistance and confirm the cost effectiveness of this type of care.
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Taiwan is an island country, with a small area and a dense population. Cancer has been the leading cause of death for over 15 years, and the number of cancer deaths is increasing year by year. The hospice movement started in 1983, and the first hospice was set up in 1990. ⋯ The curriculum for palliative medicine has recently been confirmed for education in the future. The Government has been a great help in the development of palliative care, and more service needs are identified. The situation with the hospice movement in Taiwan is positive and promising.