Effect of Palliative Care Decision on Use of Hospital Services in Pancreatic Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background/aim: Continuing chemotherapy or using hospital services near the end of life (EOL) and delaying the approach to palliative care (PC) services are factors impairing quality of life near the EOL.

Patients And Methods: Records of patients with pancreatic cancer treated at Helsinki University Hospital in 2013 and deceased by the end of 2014 were reviewed (N=221). The PC decision establishes the point when anticancer treatment is interrupted and the focus shifts to symptom-centered PC.