Back to Search
Start Over
Assistive technology in palliative medicine: equipment needs.
- Source :
-
BMJ supportive & palliative care [BMJ Support Palliat Care] 2023 Jan 05. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jan 05. - Publication Year :
- 2023
- Publisher :
- Ahead of Print
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Most people prefer to die at home. Timely and appropriate provision of assistive technology can support people to remain at home in the palliative phase. A state-wide palliative care equipment programme (PCEP) was established in Queensland, Australia, to support coordinated assistive technology provision. The objective of this study was to identify population-wide palliative care equipment needs and their relationship to primary diagnostic categories.<br />Method: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of equipment provided over a 19-month period was conducted. This included types of equipment provided and characteristics of the participants such as rurality, age and diagnostic category.<br />Results: There were 13 764 approved equipment requests, with a median time between equipment application and death being around 35 days. There were significant differences in the types of equipment typically required across diagnostic categories.<br />Conclusion: The findings from the study can provide a benchmark for the development of population-wide PCEPs. For practitioners who are new to palliative care, typical trajectories of equipment needs by diagnostic group can help guide equipment planning.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2045-4368
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMJ supportive & palliative care
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36604162
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2022-003723