What is the data-defined length for short time from diagnosis to death that is associated with a low rate of palliative care enrolment for persons with colorectal cancer?

1. Sheri Roach1,
2. Audrey Steenbeek2,
3. Mohamed Abdolell3,
4. Robin Urquhart4 and
5. Grace Johnston5

+ Author Affiliations

1. ¹Department of Performance Excellence, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
2. ²Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
3. ³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
4. ⁴Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
5. ⁵Faculty of Health Professions, School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

1. Correspondence to Sheri Roach, Department of Performance Excellence, Capital District Health Authority, 3771 Memorial Drive, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3K 5A4; sheri.roach@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective Prior research has demonstrated that people who die shortly after receiving a cancer diagnosis are at increased risk for not being referred to palliative care. No previous studies have empirically derived the length of time between diagnosis and death associated with increased risk. The objective of this study was to identify the length of time between diagnosis and death associated with increased risk for non-enrolment in a palliative care programme.

Methods Binary recursive partitioning was employed to derive the cut-point for the number of days from colorectal cancer diagnosis to death predictive of a high risk for non-enrolment in a palliative care programme in two health districts in Nova Scotia, Canada. The study included all adults (≥20 years) who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the two districts between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2005 and who died between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2008 (n=894). 

Results Individuals who died within 18.5 days following diagnosis were at highest risk for non-enrolment in palliative care. Of the 60 adults who died in <18.5 days, 16.7% were enrolled in a palliative care programme; of the 835 adults who died ≥18.5 days after diagnosis, 65.9% were enrolled. 

Conclusions This data-driven approach may be used to define the short diagnosis-to-death time frame at which individuals are at increased risk for non-enrolment in palliative care programmes. This approach allows researchers to further investigate and compare empirically-derived cut-points that identify those who die quickly and are at risk of not receiving palliative care.