Where patients with cancer die in South Australia

D. Roder, A. Bonett, R. Hunt, M. Beare

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28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In a sample of 1582 deaths among South Australian patients with cancer (795 deaths in 1981 and 787 deaths in 1985), 67% of deaths occurred in a hospital, 9% of deaths in a hospice, 10% of deaths in a nursing home, and 14% of deaths in a private residence. More patients died in a hospice or nursing home in 1985 than in 1981, and fewer died in a hospital. With increasing age, fewer patiens died in a hospital and more in a nursing home. Compared with men, women were less likely to die at a private residence and more likely to die in a nursing home. A greater poportion of men with a living wife died at private residence than was so among single or widowed men. However, conjugal status was not associated with the place of death of women. Patients who lived in the more affluent metropolitan suburbs tended more to die at a private residence than did those from poorer suburbs or country areas. Patients with haematological malignancies died in major metropolitan public hospitals more frequently than did patients with other tumours. Possible explanations are given for these findings.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11-13
Number of pages3
JournalMedical Journal of Australia
Volume147
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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