McCusker J
J Chronic Dis. 1984;37(5):377-85. doi: 10.1016/0021-9681(84)90104-8.
There is considerable current interest in the care of the terminally ill. This study provides information on the incidence, prevalence and duration of terminal cancer, and examines patient characteristics and patterns of care during the terminal care period (TCP). The data were derived from a retrospective study of 144 cancer deaths, utilizing information from physicians, medical records, and interviews with surviving relatives. It was estimated that 90% of all cancer deaths had a TCP, of average duration 94 days. Better functional status was associated with a longer TCP, and with spending a greater proportion of the TCP at home. Several areas of concern were noted in patterns of care, including use of a tumor-directed therapy during the TCP (in 18% of patients with a TCP) and the lack of face-to-face contact with the physician outside institutions, particularly as death approached.
当前，人们对晚期绝症患者的护理极为关注。本研究提供了有关晚期癌症的发病率、患病率和病程的信息，并调查了患者特征以及临终关怀期（TCP）的护理模式。数据来自对144例癌症死亡病例的回顾性研究，利用了医生提供的信息、病历以及对幸存亲属的访谈。据估计，所有癌症死亡病例中有90%经历了TCP，平均病程为94天。较好的功能状态与较长的TCP相关，并且在TCP期间在家中度过的时间比例更高。护理模式中存在几个值得关注的方面，包括在TCP期间使用针对肿瘤的治疗（在18%的TCP患者中）以及在机构外与医生缺乏面对面接触，尤其是在临近死亡时。
