NUR 440 Evidence Table
Study Citation
Design
Method
Sample
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Validity
Reliability
Amano, K., Morita, T., Tatara,
R., Katayama, H., Uno,
T., & Takagi, I. (2015).
Association between
early palliative care
referrals, inpatient
hospice utilization, and
aggressiveness of care at
the end of life.
Journal
of Palliative Medicine
,
18
(3), 270–273.
Retrieved from
-
org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.
1089/jpm.2014.0132
This study was
designed to
explore the
association
between early
palliative care
referrals,
inpatient
hospice
utilization, and
aggressiveness
of EOL care by
investigating
cancer
decedents.
A
retrospe
ctive
cohort
study in
a cancer
hospital
in Japan.
265
cancer
decedents
from a
cancer
hospital
in Japan
The
association
between early
referrals (> 3
months before
death) and
inpatient
hospice
utilization and
the relationship
between the
timing of
referrals and
aggressive
EOL care
measured by a
composite
score -adapted
from the only
existing
instrument
available to
quantify the
levels of
aggressiveness
of EOL
care.
Early palliative
care referrals
were associated
with increased
inpatient hospice
utilization and
less aggressive
end of life care.
Supports other
research with
similar results.
Limitations
due to:
retrospective
evaluation,
lack of
patient-
reporting,
lack early
palliative
care referral
group,
single-
institution
study, lack of
information
about
patients
discharged
home/moved
to nursing
home/anothe
r hospital.
Cagle, J. G., Van Dussen, D. J.,
