Introduction: Dementia is a chronic and progressive condition with high prevalence and impact and has been considered a public health priority worldwide. The early introduction of palliative care and its intervention throughout the disease trajectory offers benefits, particularly in the development of an advanced care plan. Preferences in end-of-life care have been associated with the concept of “good death” and reflect person-centered care. This study aims to analyze the evolution of place of death of people with dementia, their distribution and access to palliative care. Methodology: Epidemiological, cross-sectional, analytical, and observational study. Data on the evolution of place of death was obtained from the National Institute of Statistics. Trend analysis and linear regression were carried out using JoinPoint software. Distribution across healthcare services was evidenced by applying a Microsoft Forms questionnaire to the RNCCI, RNCP and ERPI teams, with the data being processed in percentage calculation tables. Results: In Portugal, 68 542 people died of dementia between 1980 and 2020, 25 492 (37,2%) at home, 31 624 (46,1%) in hospital/clinic and 11 426 (16,7%) in other locations. Trends point to a decrease in deaths at home, with a progressive increase in hospital/clinic, and special relevance in other locations, such as nursing homes. ERPI admitted a higher percentage of people diagnosed with dementia between 2018 and 2022. The increasing number of deaths in this context reflects important palliative care needs. Conclusions: The results of this study reveal inconsistencies between the actual place of death and the preferences of the Portuguese population. The increase in stay and death in ERPI contexts reflects the importance of developing actions to improve access of people with dementia to palliative care. The data obtained suggest the need for research into endof- life preferences and the level of training of ERPI in approaching this population.
Date of Award | 22 Nov 2024 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Manuel Luís Capelas (Supervisor) |
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- Dementia
- Palliative care
- Place of death
- Mestrado em Cuidados Paliativos
A pessoa com demência em Portugal: acessibilidade a cuidados paliativos e evolução do local de morte
Santos, I. F. D. M. (Student). 22 Nov 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis