Retrospective chart review to assess domains of quality of death (recognition of dying, appropriate limitations, symptom monitoring, anticipatory prescribing) of patients dying in the acute hospital under the care of a nephrology service with renal supportive care support over time

• Published in: Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.) Vic.), 2019-05, Vol.24 (5), p.511-517
• Main Authors: Urban, Agnes K, Foote, Celine, Brennan, Frank P, Brown, Mark, Lee, Brendon W H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Advance Care Planning - standards; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Death; Bereavement; Drug Prescriptions; end‐of‐life care; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospital Mortality; Hospitals, Teaching - standards; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - diagnosis; Kidney Failure, Chronic - mortality; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Kidneys; Male; Middle Aged; Nephrology; Nephrology - standards; New South Wales; palliative care; Palliative Care - standards; Professional-Family Relations; Quality Indicators, Health Care - standards; quality of death; Quality of Life; renal supportive care; Repatriation; Retrospective Studies; Spirituality; Terminal Care - standards; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1320-5358; 1440-1797
• DOI: 10.1111/nep.13447

ABSTRACT Aim To explore the quality of deaths in an acute hospital under a nephrology service at two teaching hospitals in Sydney with renal supportive care services over time. Methods Retrospective chart review of all deaths in the years 2004, 2009 and 2014 at St George Hospital (SGH) and in 2014 at the Concord Repatriation General Hospital. Domains assessed were recognition of dying, invasive interventions, symptom assessment, anticipatory prescribing, documentation of spiritual needs and bereavement information for families. End‐of‐life care plan (EOLCP) use was also evaluated at SGH. Results Over 90% of patients were recognized to be dying in all 3 years at SGH. Rates of interventions in the last week of life were low and did not differ across the 3 years. There was a significant increase in the prescription of anti‐psychotic, anti‐emetic and anti‐cholinergic medication over the years at SGH. Use of EOLCP was significantly higher at SGH, and their use improved several quality domains. Of all deaths, 68% were referred to palliative care at SGH and 33% at Concord Repatriation General Hospital (not significant). Cessation of observations and non‐essential medications and documentation of bereavement information given to families was low across both sites in all years, although this significantly improved when EOLCP were used. Conclusion While acute teams are good at recognizing dying, they need support to care for dying patients. The use of EOLCP in acute services can facilitate improvements in caring for the dying. Renal supportive care services need time to become embedded in the culture of the acute hospital. Summary at a Glance This manuscript assesses the quality of death for patients with kidney disease in acute hospitals and the impact of a formal renal supportive care program. Potential areas of focus for future research and to improve end‐of‐life care are highlighted.