Table 2

Number of patients with prescriptions for ‘as needed’ medication for pain, death rattle, nausea and anxiety during the last day of life

TotalNursing homeShort-term care homeHospital ward, not palliativeHospice/palliative hospital wardSpecialised palliative home care
Pain medication ‘as needed’ prescribed89%→90%78%→83%83%→88%79% → 81%98%→99%93%→94%
p<0.001p<0.001p=0.012p=0.001NSNS
Death rattle medication ‘as needed’ prescribed80%→83%72%→78%76%→81%60%→69%92%→94%84%→89%
p<0.001p<0.001NSp<0.001p=0.008p<0.001
Nausea medication ‘as needed’ prescribed55%→82%24%→74%30%→78%28%→67%83%→94%71%→88%
p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001
Anxiety medication ‘as needed’ prescribed78%→82%61%→69%65%→76%59%→69%95%→96%88%→91%
p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001NSp=0.005

  • NS, not significant.