Palliative Care demand in the São Paulo State: Patients epidemiologic profile in multiple Healthcare Centers

Abstract

Despite Palliative Care practice recognition in Brazil, its demandis not known. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of patients with end-stage diseases in the São Paulo State Health Department, SES - SP, related services. The evidenced better use of resources, costs reallocation and creation or reforms needed for São Paulo's specific palliative care beds, justify modeling to evaluate the Palliative Care impact in local healthcare costs and user's quality of life it may promote. Methods: This exploratory observational cross-sectional study will survey the prevalence of patients presenting terminality of life diagnostic criteria, within hospitals in the state of São Paulo. A questionnaire will be applied directly to patients' attending physicians, covering each inpatient at the intervention event in participant services. This intervention will be done vertically, at events, in order to picture the hospitalized terminally ill patients' distribution. Furthermore, there will be a retrospective review of the terminality diagnostics profile in each participating center, sorting through all their 2010 - 2011 hospitalizations (admissions in SUS databases). A descriptive analysis of this structured data will allow unseasonal quantitative and qualitative estimates and scenarios of São Paulo's end of life hospitalized patients. Expected results: Palliative Care diagnostic progress report and scientific papers are planned, by institution and the São Paulo State regional groups. Palliative Care specific environment adjustments may be anticipated aiming at more rational care path for these terminally ill patients. Accordingly, more appropriate resources allocation for non-palliative services is expected. Increased ICU beds availability may enable a greater number of elective surgeries and healing treatments for non-terminal patients, allowing SUS greater access and resolution. (AU)