Families' perceptions of end-of-life care in Veterans Affairs versus non-Veterans Affairs facilities

Journal of Palliative Medicine
Hien LuDavid Casarett

Abstract

The Veterans Affairs (VA) has made significant investments in care for veterans. However, it is not known whether these investments have produced improvements in end-of-life care in the VA compared to other settings. Therefore, the goal of this study was to compare families' perceptions of end-of-life care among patients who died in VA and non-VA facilities. Retrospective 32-item telephone surveys were conducted with family members of patients who died in VA and non-VA facilities. Five Veterans Affairs medical centers and their affiliated nursing homes and outpatient clinics. Patients were eligible if they received any care from a participating VA facility in the last month of life and if they died in an inpatient setting. One family member per patient completed the survey. In bivariate analysis, patients who died in VA facilities (n = 520) had higher mean satisfaction scores compared to those who died in non-VA facilities (n = 89; 59 versus 51; rank sum test p = 0.002). After adjusting for medical center, the overall score was still significantly higher for those dying in the VA (beta = 0.07; confidence interval [CI] = 0.02-0.11; p = 0.004), as was the domain measuring care around the time of death (beta = 0.11; CI = 0.04-0.17...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 18, 2015·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Sangeeta C AhluwaliaKarl A Lorenz
Aug 15, 2014·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Ann Kutney-LeeMary Ersek
Mar 27, 2015·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Mary ErsekDawn Smith
Mar 21, 2015·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Katherine A RozaNathan E Goldstein
May 27, 2016·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Risha GidwaniVincent Mor
Jul 17, 2016·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Claire O'HanlonCourtney Gidengil
Jul 6, 2014·The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care·Sangeeta C AhluwaliaKarl A Lorenz
May 17, 2013·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Mary ErsekDenise Moore
Jan 8, 2011·Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·Mark D Neuman
Sep 1, 2016·Medical Care·Ann Kutney-LeeMary Ersek
Sep 30, 2021·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Daniel KinderAnn Kutney-Lee

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