Predictors of place of death in South West Scotland 2000-2010: Retrospective cohort study

Black, H., Waugh, C., Munoz-Arroyo, R., Carnon, A., Allan, A., Clark, D. , Graham, F. and Isles, C. (2016) Predictors of place of death in South West Scotland 2000-2010: Retrospective cohort study. Palliative Medicine, 30(8), pp. 764-771. (doi: 10.1177/0269216315627122) (PMID:26857358) (PMCID:PMC4994701)

[img]
Preview
Text
116505.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

277kB

Abstract

Background: Surveys suggest most people would prefer to die in their own home. Aim: To examine predictors of place of death over an 11-year period between 2000 and 2010 in Dumfries and Galloway, south west Scotland. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting/Participants: 19,697 Dumfries and Galloway residents who died in the region or elsewhere in Scotland. We explored the relation between age, gender, cause of death (cancer, respiratory, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and dementia) and place of death (acute hospital, cottage hospital, residential care and home) using regression models to show differences and trends. The main acute hospital in the region had a specialist palliative care unit. Results: Fewer people died in their own homes (23.2% vs 29.6%) in 2010 than in 2000. Between 2007 and 2010, men were more likely to die at home than women (p < 0.001), while both sexes were less likely to die at home as they became older (p < 0.001) and in successive calendar years (p < 0.003). Older people with dementia as the cause of death were particularly unlikely to die in an acute hospital and very likely to die in a residential home (p < 0.001). Between 2007 and 2010, an increasing proportion of acute hospital deaths occurred in the specialist palliative care unit (6% vs 11% of all deaths in the study). Conclusion: The proportion of people dying at home fell during our survey. Place of death was strongly associated with age, calendar year and cause of death. A mismatch remains between stated preference for place of death and where death occurs.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Clark, Professor David
Authors: Black, H., Waugh, C., Munoz-Arroyo, R., Carnon, A., Allan, A., Clark, D., Graham, F., and Isles, C.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
Journal Name:Palliative Medicine
Publisher:SAGE
ISSN:0269-2163
ISSN (Online):1477-030X
Published Online:08 February 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Palliative Medicine 30(8): 764-771
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record