Background: The utilization of pediatric hospice care remains unclear in Taiwan.
Methods: Data were analyzed from the claims of hospice admissions in patients aged 18 years or younger using the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2005 to 2010.
Results: A total of 91 patients and 136 admissions were enrolled (male-female = 50:41; mean 11.6 years old). In all, 62 patients were admitted once, including 47 patients who died. All the patients had cancer, with brain cancer (40.7%) accounting the most . Among acute comorbidities, neurological complications (16.2%) were mostly accounted. Family physicians provided most (64.7%) of the hospice services. Hospice stay ≤3 days correlated positively with death in hospices (odds ratio = 2.922, 95% confidence interval = 1.268-6.730).
Conclusions: Pediatric hospice care revealed characteristics different from adults. Underlying late referrals were prevalent. There is space to promote the utilization of hospices for terminally ill pediatric patients.
Keywords: Taiwan; family medicine; hospice care; neoplasms; pediatrics; referral and consultation.
© The Author(s) 2013.