Characteristics of Referrals to an Inpatient Hospice and a Survey of General Practitioner Perceptions of Palliative Care

• DOI: 10.1177/014107689608900206
• Publication Date: 2018-03-08T06:21:57Z
• Authors: David A Seamark; Clive Lawrence; James Gilbert
• Keywords: Opiate; Hospice care

In order to determine symptoms, drug prescribing and physical problems of patients referred an inpatient hospice, case notes from 130 consecutive first admissions (95 general practitioner (GP) referrals, 35 consultant referrals) were analysed. GP referrals more likely be constipated, require care discharged home. Consultant gravely ill, dependent die in the hospice. On admission 76 (58%) receiving opiates with co-prescription opiate laxative occurring 41 % (31/76) cases. The prescription laxatives symptoms constipation occurred 62% (26/42) cases on admission. A telephone survey 79 referring GPs revealed that 37% had attended neither a course nor lecture relevant palliative past 3 years. experienced difficulties frequently or always in: (a) managing pain (8/79); (b) other (25/79); (c) helping relatives cope their emotional distress (18/79); (d) coping own responses death dying (5/79). conclusion, differences demonstrated between have implications for purchasers. high incidence possible opiate-induced side-effects symptom control expressed by some indicate continuing need effective educational input.