A questionnaire survey on the implementation of palliative care in the emergency department in China.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to characterize the need for palliative care and its effect on patients with end-stage disease in the emergency department (ED).

DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study. A questionnaire survey was administered to patients with end-stage disease who were admitted to the resuscitation room of the ED and expected to live less than 6 months.

RESULTS: A total of 82 of 2095 patients admitted to the resuscitation room were included. Only 1 (1.22%) patient had ever received palliative care before admission. Nine patients received palliative care consultation after admission, and they were more likely to select medical places of death accompanied by their families and do not resuscitate orders at the end of life after consultation (P < 0.05). Whether the disease had previously been actively treated and the number of children impacted the choice of treatment at the end of life (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with end-stage disease admitted to the ED, knowledge of palliative care was lacking. Palliative care could help them avoid the damage caused by pointless resuscitation.