内容紹介
Availability of Palliative Care Units and Outpatient Services in Japan―A Nation-Wide Survey
Summary
We conducted a nation-wide survey to clarify the availability of palliative care units and outpatient palliative care services in Japan. We sent 306 questionnaires to the managing physicians of all certified palliative care units, and obtained 243 responses(79%). Eighteen percent reported that patients undergoing anti-cancer treatment are not able to apply for admission; 82% offered outpatient services. In 20% of the institutions, waiting time before admission was 11 days or longer for patients with pain and a predicted prognosis of less than 1 month. Only 10% reported that all patients who expressed a desire for admission were actually able to be admitted. Oncologists and palliative care physicians need to discuss the creation of a system so that all patients who want them can actually avail of palliative care services.
要旨
緩和ケア病棟の入院予約と外来機能の実態を把握するための全国調査を行った。緩和ケア病棟243施設のうち18%が「抗がん治療中の患者の入院予約は行わない」と返答した。外来機能がある施設は82%であった。利用できるまで11日以上の待ち時間がある施設が20%以上あり,希望した全員が入院できている施設は10%であった。希望するがん患者が緩和ケア病棟を利用しやすくなる体制について,がん治療医と緩和ケア医で話し合う必要がある。
目次
Summary
We conducted a nation-wide survey to clarify the availability of palliative care units and outpatient palliative care services in Japan. We sent 306 questionnaires to the managing physicians of all certified palliative care units, and obtained 243 responses(79%). Eighteen percent reported that patients undergoing anti-cancer treatment are not able to apply for admission; 82% offered outpatient services. In 20% of the institutions, waiting time before admission was 11 days or longer for patients with pain and a predicted prognosis of less than 1 month. Only 10% reported that all patients who expressed a desire for admission were actually able to be admitted. Oncologists and palliative care physicians need to discuss the creation of a system so that all patients who want them can actually avail of palliative care services.
要旨
緩和ケア病棟の入院予約と外来機能の実態を把握するための全国調査を行った。緩和ケア病棟243施設のうち18%が「抗がん治療中の患者の入院予約は行わない」と返答した。外来機能がある施設は82%であった。利用できるまで11日以上の待ち時間がある施設が20%以上あり,希望した全員が入院できている施設は10%であった。希望するがん患者が緩和ケア病棟を利用しやすくなる体制について,がん治療医と緩和ケア医で話し合う必要がある。