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Utilization of Palliative Care Screening Tool to Early Identify Patients with COVID-19 Needing Palliative Care: A Cohort Study

Author

Listed:
  • Yung-Feng Yen

    (Section of Infectious Diseases, Taipei City Hospital, Yangming Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Hsiao-Yun Hu

    (Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan
    Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Taipei, Taipei 100, Taiwan)

  • Yi-Chang Chou

    (Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Chu-Chieh Chen

    (Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan)

  • Chin-Yu Ho

    (School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Family Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Yangming Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Psychology, Soochow University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    General Education Center, University of Taipei, Taipei 100, Taiwan)

Abstract

There are very few programs that identify patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who need palliative care. This cohort study presents a model to use a validated palliative care screening tool (PCST) to systematically identify hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in need of palliative care. In this prospective study, we consecutively recruited patients with COVID-19 admitted to Taipei City Hospital between 1 January and 30 July 2021. Patients’ palliative care needs were determined by using the PCST. Advance care planning (ACP) and advance directives (AD) were systemically provided for all patients with a PCST score ≥ 4. Of 897 patients, 6.1% had a PCST score ≥ 4. During the follow-up period, 106 patients died: 75 (8.9%) with a PCST score < 4 and 31 (56.4%) with a PCST score ≥ 4. The incidence of mortality was 2.08 and 0.58/100 person-days in patients with PCST scores ≥ 4 and <4, respectively. After controlling for other covariates, a PCST score ≥ 4 was associated with a higher risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19 (adjusted HR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.22–3.54; p < 0.001). During hospitalization, 55 patients completed an ACP discussion with their physicians, which led to 15 of them completing the AD. Since hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had a high mortality rate, it is imperative to implement a comprehensive palliative care program to early identify patients needing palliative care and promotion of AD and ACP.

Suggested Citation

  • Yung-Feng Yen & Hsiao-Yun Hu & Yi-Chang Chou & Chu-Chieh Chen & Chin-Yu Ho, 2022. "Utilization of Palliative Care Screening Tool to Early Identify Patients with COVID-19 Needing Palliative Care: A Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-8, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1054-:d:727634
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