Impact of Rurality on Palliative Care Service Use
Author Information
Author(s): Tay Djin, Guo Jia-Wen, Ornstein Katherine, Dubose Kline, Sheng Xiaoming, Ellington Lee
Primary Institution: University of Utah
Hypothesis
Rural patients would have less palliative care-related service claims.
Conclusion
Rural patients have lower claims for advance care planning and hospice care compared to urban patients, indicating a need for improved access to palliative care services.
Supporting Evidence
- Rural patients had lower advance care planning claims (2% vs. 6% for urban patients).
- Approximately half of both rural (54%) and urban (49%) patients had ever received hospice care.
- Rural patients had higher proportions of palliative care claims (35% vs. 31% for urban patients).
- Rural patients had higher proportions of chemotherapy claims (53% vs. 49% for urban patients).
Takeaway
This study looked at how people living in rural areas get less help with serious illnesses compared to those in cities, showing that more needs to be done to help them.
Methodology
The study used a retrospective population cohort design analyzing cancer registry and state-wide claims data.
Limitations
The study indicates low uptake of palliative care services overall, suggesting room for improvement.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 65 and above with metastatic cancers, including 28% living in rural or frontier regions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.076 and p=0.055
Statistical Significance
p<0.006
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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