End-of-life care is a core topic for geriatricians. One of the key aspects of end-of-life management is deciding when to discontinue active care measures (for example blood pressure monitoring, blood tests and X-rays) in favor of exclusive comfort care. In this retrospective observational study, the investigators looked at the care measures, treatments and paraclinical exams received by geriatric patients both one week and 24 hours before their death.
This analysis provides information on the differences in geriatric physicians' practices regarding the anticipation of the end of life, by showing on average when active care measures were stopped before death. Secondly, the investigators looked at patient criteria that could explain a prolongation of active care and a delay in the implementation of exclusive comfort care.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Patient's socio-demographic data (age, gender, residence), comorbidities, cause of death, date and frequency of care measures/treatments/paraclinical exams received before their death.
CHU Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne, France
RECRUITINGPrevalence of care and treatments received during the last week of life, and during the last 24 hours of life
To measure the prevalence of care (hemodynamic, biological and radiological monitoring), and to evaluate the treatments received during the last week of life, and during the last 24 hours of life of patients hospitalized and who died in a geriatric short-stay ward.
Time frame: In the last week of life and 24 hours before death
Patient criteria that may have explained the pursuit of care
Analysis of patient criteria (age, comorbidities, etc.) that may have explained the continuation of care, treatments and paraclinical exams up to the last 24 hours before death.
Time frame: In the last week of life and 24 hours before death
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