ABSTRACT
Objective: We retrospectively studied the adaptation and limits of applying Biological Prognostic Score Version-2 composed only of blood test results to prognostic prediction in end-of-life non-cancer patients. Methods: The prognostic score was calculated from the cholinesterase, blood urea nitrogen, and white blood cell counts of hospitalized end-of-life non-cancer patients, divided into three groups with cutoff values, and prediction accuracy analysis, survival analysis, and simple regression analysis were performed. Results: Diagnostic accuracy of 204 non-cancer patients at the same cut-off value and predicted survival time as cancer was 79% accurate at 3 weeks survival and 63% at 9 weeks. Specificity and negative predictive value were highly accurate, sensitivity and positive predictive value were low. In the survival analysis, the discrimination between the 3 groups was significant (p<0.05), but the regression coefficient in the regression analysis was not significant (p=0.43). Conclusion: The prognostic prediction using this score for non-cancer patients has high prediction accuracy in the case of good prognosis. It is suggested that clinical use of this score is also possible if used cautiously.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the palliative care for cancer patients provided by a long-term care unit. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 194 patients who hospitalized in our long-term care unit between April 2010 and December 2014. The patients shared with a group of two, narcotic drugs non-use period (previous group; until March 2012) and narcotics use period (later group; in April 2012 or later), and it was compared with a background, hospitalization period, result on discharge, narcotic drug administration, symptom relief. And it was surveyed hospitalization dynamics of our palliative care unit for comparison. Result: Cancer patients were 16 (22%) in previous group of 74 patients and were 79 (66%) in later group of 120. The proportion of cancer patients in later group increased to three times (p<0.001). In later group, the average hospital stay was shortened to half (144 days, p<0.01) and the mortality discharge rates increased (78%, p<0.05). Narcotic drugs were administered to more than half (57%) of cancer patients in later group, and pain relief was significantly better. In the period of later group, number of hospitalized patients in palliative care unit was also increased. Conclusion: It was suggested that the long-term unit can perform palliative care for cancer patients in cooperation with the palliative care unit.
ABSTRACT
A survey through general questionnaires was performed on those who visited the Hijiori, Yutagawa and Akakura hot springs in Yamagata Prefecture for thermalisme.<br>A total of 548 replies were obtained and they were analyzed in comparison with the survey results reported by Sugiyama et al. about 30 years ago.<br>Most of visitors were regular customers living in Yamagata Prefecture. Further, most of them, both men and women, were of age 60 or over. This fact was remarkably different from the investigation results of 30 years ago.<br>The degree of satisfaction among visitors as to the effectiveness of thermalisme was high among most of those who visited there to relieve pain but not so high among those who visited there for their health or for resting.