Continuity of Physicians’ Dedication to Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care

A 14-year Nationwide Survey in Taiwan

Bibliographic Data

ID15460338
AuthorsBo‐Ren Cheng (0000-0002-3205-9248, Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Ming-Hwai Lin (0000-0001-6825-6692, Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan), Ming‐Hwai Lin (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Hsiao‐Ting Chang (0000-0003-0421-8499, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Yi-Jen Wang (0000-0003-2790-9233, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, corresponding author), Tzeng‐Ji Chen (0000-0002-8350-0232, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Li-Fang Chou (National Chengchi University), Li‐Fang Chou (0000-0003-0370-2991, National Chengchi University), Shinn‐Jang Hwang (0000-0003-3217-6193, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)
Year2019
Volume16
Issue16
Pages2932-2932
Publication date2019-08-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph16162932
PMID31443267
OpenAlexW2966973189
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited16

Background: The work continuity of physicians in hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) has a great impact on the quality of care and practice experiences. However, nationwide studies providing a general overview of the work continuity of HPM physicians are scarce. Methods: Data relating to inpatient HPM care provided from July 2000 to December 2013 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Specifically, the numbers of hospitals, patients, patient hospitalization days, and physicians involving HPM in each year were calculated. The years of HPM work experience and total HPM workdays of each physician were also computed. Results: Of the 40,965,153 inpatient records during the study, 121,258 (0.3%) records were related to inpatient HPM care, with 60 participating hospitals and 604 attending physicians. The annual number of HPM physicians increased with time from 77 in 2000 to 217 in 2013. The largest percentage (38.4%) of physicians practiced HPM for only one year, while only 23 (3.8%) physicians practiced HPM in each year without interruption. Of the 217 HPM physicians in 2013, 45 (20.7%) were newcomers, 78 (36.0%) had 1-4 years of prior HPM work experience, 54 (24.9%) had 5-9 years, and 40 (18.4%) had at least 10 years. Conclusions: Among HPM physicians in Taiwan, only a small percentage exhibited long-term dedication to the field, whereas most HPM physicians had short practice periods. More strategies are needed to improve work continuity among HPM physicians

Continuity of care · Family medicine · Health care · Palliative care · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

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