End-of-life care in an Australian acute hospital: a retrospective observational study.

Background: There is a gap in knowledge about the kind and quality of care experienced by hospital patients at the end of their lives.

Aims: To document and compare the patterns in end-of-life care for patients dying across a range of different medical units in an acute care hospital.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of consecutive adult inpatient deaths between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2014 in four different medical units of an Australian tertiary referral hospital was performed.

End-of-life care of oncology inpatients: Are we getting it right?

Aim: To examine the current patterns of end-of-life care of medical oncology patients dying in an Australian tertiary acute hospital setting in order to determine potential areas for improvement.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was undertaken of 295 consecutive adult medical oncology inpatients dying between 2010 and 2015. Charts were reviewed for evidence of (1) resuscitation plans, (2) acute interventions in the 48-h period prior to death, (3) palliative care involvement and (4) recognition of the dying patient and comfort care plans.