News Briefs – JUNE 2022
by INELDA
END-OF-LIFE IN CHINA | DEATH IN LATIN AMERICA | FUNDING FOR PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE EDUCATION
End-of-Life Wishes for Terminal Cancer Patients in China
A team of scientists examined preferences for EOL care among patients with terminal cancer in China, according to a report published in JAMA. More than 10,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in China daily. In 2015, 2.8 million people died from cancer in the country—one-third of the worldwide cancer deaths. For this study, 183 patients with terminal advanced cancer at their EOL were interviewed from a hospital in Shandong Province to ascertain their EOL preferences. Extending life by 10 months and a better quality of life were the most important attributes. The findings suggest that in addition to extending life moderately for patients with terminal cancer, improving quality of life during EOL care and supporting home deaths may deserve greater attention. Results also suggest that physicians and surrogates should ask about patients’ care preferences and better inform them of their choices to improve EOL care outcomes.
Location of Death in Latin American Countries
To best understand end-of-life and health system planning in Latin America, researchers examined 2,994,685 death certificates in 12 Latin American countries from 2016 to 2018. According to results published in Journal of Global Health, 31.3% of deaths occurred at home, and 57.6% in hospitals. Although most deaths in Latin America occur in hospitals, the number of hospital and home deaths vary greatly between the countries. A strong variation was found among the nations in the study, with home deaths ranging from 20% (Brazil) to 67.9% (Guatemala) and hospital deaths from 22.3% (Guatemala) to 69.5% (Argentina). The likelihood of dying at home was consistently higher with increasing age, for those living in a rural area, and for those with a lower educational level, except in Argentina. For the improvement of end-of-life care and services in Latin America, further research is needed.
Bipartisan Palliative Care Education Bill Back to the House
Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) have reintroduced for the third time the bipartisan Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act (PCHETA) to provide money to improve and sustain the dwindling palliative care and hospice workforce. The bill focuses on three key areas. First, workforce training to ensure education in palliative and hospice care. Second, education and awareness to ensure patients, families, and health professionals are informed of service benefits. Lastly, enhanced research that would direct the National Institutes of Health to use funding and resources to expand palliative care research. Both senators served as primary caregivers and recognized the immense necessity for the growth of the workforce in this sector.