End-of-life care for HIV-infected patients with malignancies: A questionnaire-based survey.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The number of HIV-infected patients who require palliative or end-of-life care is increasing, and the status of end-of-life care for HIV patients with malignancies is unclear.

AIM:

This study aimed to evaluate the end-of-life care provided to HIV patients with malignancies in Japan.

DESIGN:

National cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS:

Questionnaires were delivered to the medical staff of 378 regional core hospitals/core hospitals for AIDS and 285 palliative care units in Japan. Data were collected between August and October 2013.

RESULTS:

Overall, 226 regional core hospitals/core hospitals for AIDS (59.8%) responded. A total of 55 institutions (24.3%) provided end-of-life care to HIV patients with malignancies. Regarding the place of death of the patients, 69.1% died at the institution whereas 18.2% were transferred to palliative care units. The requests of 16 (29.1%) institutions to transfer patients to palliative care units were rejected. Of the 378 palliative care units, 179 (62.8%) responded. While 13 palliative care units (4.6%) provided care to hospitalized HIV patients with malignancies, 20 (11.2%) refused to accept these patients for treatment because of a lack of experience in treating these patients and a lack of knowledge regarding HIV infection.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings suggest that in Japan, HIV patients with malignancies have difficulties obtaining hospitalization at a palliative care unit, which is likely due to a lack of experience among the professionals in treating such patients as well as a lack of knowledge about HIV.

• Authors: Yuki Kojima, Nami Iwasaki, Yuriko Yanaga, Junko Tanuma, Yusuke Koizumi, Tomoko Uehira, Mihoko Yotsumoto, Atsushi Ajisawa, Shotaro Hagiwara, Seiji Okada, Hirokazu Nagai
• Journal: Palliative medicine (Palliat Med) Vol. 30 Issue 9 Pg. 869-76 (10 2016) ISSN: 1477-030X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26934946 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2016.

Topics

• Cross-Sectional Studies
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Humans
• Japan
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Palliative Care
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Terminal Care