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Table 1 Overview of the key characteristics of articles included the review

From: Duration of palliative care before death in international routine practice: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Study author and citation

Country

UNDP HDI

WHPCA palliative care development

Study design

No. of patients

% patients alive at end of study period

Age

Gender (% female)

Ethnicity (% White Caucasian)

Type of disease

Type of palliative care service

Level of analysis

Duration of palliative care (days)

Statistical summary reported

Terminology used to report duration of palliative care

Hawker’s criteria rating (score)

Aeckerle, 2013 [22]

Germany

Very high

4b

RO

225

9%

66*

100%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

59*

Median

Survival

Fair (26)

Alsirafy, 2013 [23]

Egypt

Medium

3a

RO

123

0%

53*

57%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

66*

Median

Survival

Fair (23)

Bakitas, 2013 [24]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

132

13%

76*

47%

98%

Non-malignant

Combined

Local

21*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Beernaert, 2013 [25]

Belgium

Very high

4b

RO

577

0%

U

51%

U

Mixed

Combined

National

17.95*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Cheung, 2013 [26]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

5420

0%

82‡

72%

95%

Mixed

SPCU

National

17.67*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Corbett, 2013 [27]

Australia

Very high

4b

PO

276

46%

61‡

42%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

34*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (22)

D’Angelo, 2013 [28]

Italy

Very high

4b

RO

5320

9%

74‡

50%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

21*, 38.8‡

Median and mean

Survival

Fair (27)

Dong, 2013 [29]

USA

Very high

4b

PO

1423

17%

73‡§

60%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Regional

95.44‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Eti, 2013 [30]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1837

73%

70*

60%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

4*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (24)

Gerber, 2013 [31]

USA

Very high

4b

PO

48

U

U

U

U

Unspecified

SPCU

Local

7*

Median

Length-of-stay

Poor (15)

Harris, 2013 [32]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

8669

0%

75‡

58%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Regional

31*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (24)

Hussain, 2013 [33]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

62

0%

67‡

50%

100%

Non-malignant

Community/home

Local

336*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (32)

Kelley, 2013 [34]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1064

0%

84‡

54%

85%

Mixed

SPCU

National

49*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Mack, 2013 [35]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

24,226

≤ 10%

U

48%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

15.53*†, 45.08‡†

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Meng, 2013 [36]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

136

0%

87‡

78%

70%

Mixed

SPCU

Regional

15*, 47.9‡

Median and mean

Length-of-stay

Good (29)

Mercadante, 2013 [37]

Italy

Very high

4b

PO

236

14%

73‡

50%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Regional

18.4‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Nabal, 2013 [38]

Spain

Very high

4a

PO

698

26%

74‡

40%

U

Malignant

Community/home

Regional

65‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Nevadunsky, 2013 [39]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

49

0%

61‡

U

35%

Malignant

Combined

Local

16*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Pattenden, 2013 [40]

UK

Very high

4b

PO

80

6%

81‡

39%

91%

Non-malignant

Community/home

National

41.41*†

Median

Survival

Good (29)

Redahan, 2013 [41]

Ireland

Very high

4b

RO

48

0%

64‡

33%

U

Non-malignant

Unspecified

Local

12*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Sengupta, 2013 [42]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

4375

U

U

45%

91%

Mixed

Combined

National

16.2*, 65.3‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair

(19)

Speer, 2013 [43]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

279

0%

81*

56%

34%

Mixed

Community/home

Local

16*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (22)

Wallace, 2013 [44]

Ireland

Very high

4b

RO

92

22%

77‡

65%

U

Non-malignant

General hospital ward

Local

4.6‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Weckmann, 2013 [45]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

98

0%

U

U

U

Mixed

General hospital ward

Local

13.16‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (21)

Zdenkowski, 2013 [46]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

550

33%§

64‡d

50%d

U

Malignant

Combined

Regional

77*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Zheng, 2013 [47]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

817

0%

87‡

70%

89%

Mixed

Community/home

Regional

23.5*, 93‡

Median and mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Bogasky, 2014 [48]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

3,008,137

17%

U

58%

U

Mixed

Combined

National

19*, 83‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (25)

Brown, 2014 [49]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

144

0%

60*§

100%

68%d

Malignant

Combined

Local

35.5*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Casarett, 2014 [50]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

49,370

16%

79‡

56%

89%

Mixed

SPCU

Regional

24.74‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Good (29)

Chai, 2014 [51]

Canada

Very high

4b

PO

129

0%

71‡

55%

U

Malignant

Community/home

Local

92*, 145.85‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Eastman, 2014 [52]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

6004

35%

U

U

U

Unspecified

SPCU

Regional

12.8‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (24)

Fullerton, 2014 [53]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

38

11%

U

U

U

Unspecified

SPCU

Local

15.1‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Poor (13)

Guay, 2014 [54]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

435

U

57*

54%

62%

Malignant

Community/home

Local

214.91*†

Median

Survival

Good (29)

Hui, 2014 [55]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

368

0%

60‡

52%

62%

Malignant

Combined

Local

62.33*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (31)

Kang, 2014 [56]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

2154

32%

74‡

49%

U

Mixed

SPCU

National

10.41‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Kao, 2014 [57]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

2020

15%

58*†

41%

U

Malignant

General hospital ward

Regional

33.71*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Keim-Malpass, 2014 [58]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

30

0%

31‡§

51%§

79%§

Malignant

General hospital ward

Local

12.8‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Koivu, 2014 [59]

Finland

Very high

4a

RO

138

0%

75*

64%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Regional

32‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (23)

Obermeyer, 2014 [60]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

18,165

0%

80‡

52%

88%

Malignant

Combined

National

11*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Olmsted, 2014 [61]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

77,267

0%

U

2%§

71%§

Mixed

Combined

National

23.63*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Scheffey, 2014 [62]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1368

0%

U

U

U

Mixed

SPCU

Regional

15*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (25)

Seow, 2014 [63]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

3912

0%

75*

52%

U

Mixed

Community/home

Regional

73‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Sexauer, 2014 [64]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

53

0%

64‡

51%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

7.98*†

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Shin, 2014 [65]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

610

20%

59‡

47%

66%

Malignant

SPCU

Local

32.53*†, 8‡

Median and mean

Survival

Good (29)

Unroe, 2014 [66]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

3771

17%

79‡

59%

62%

Mixed

Combined

National

22*, 84.5‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Poor (17)

Wachterman, 2014 [67]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1415

16%

75‡

0%

82%

Mixed

Combined

National

16.71*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Yamagishi, 2014 [68]

Japan

Very high

4b

RO

693

0%

72‡

40%

U

Malignant

Community/home

National

35*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Yeung, 2014 [69]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

6982

0%

U

49%

89%

Malignant

SPCU

National

13*

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (28)

Alsirafy, 2015 [70]

Saudi Arabia

Very high

3a

RO

328

0%

U

50%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

16.1‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (23)

Chiang, 2015 [71]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

566

0%

69‡

39%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

23*, 54.7‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Choi, 2015 [72]

South Korea

Very high

3a

RO

84

0%

64* §

35%§

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

12.33*†, 26.25‡†

Median and mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (24)

Colman, 2015 [73]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

24

0%

57‡

46%

U

Mixed

Combined

Local

14*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (25)

Dingfield, 2015 [74]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

125,634

3%

78‡

56%

87%

Mixed

SPCU

National

53‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Good (30)

Dougherty, 2015 [75]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

85,581

14%

74‡

52%

88%

Mixed

SPCU

National

79.57‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

El-Jawahri, 2015 [76]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

49

0%

70‡§

41%§

97%§

Malignant

Combined

Regional

7*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Gage, 2015 [77]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

688

0%

75‡

44%

U

Unspecified

Combined

Regional

70.54‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Gozalo, 2015 [78]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

261,252

U

85‡§

65%§

U

Mixed

SPCU

National

19.20*†, 83.35‡†

Median and mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (22)

Gu, 2015 [79]

China

High

4a

RO

244

0%

63‡

49%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

19*, 23.54‡

Median and mean

Survival

Good (29)

Gupte, 2015 [80]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1801

U

72‡

49%

93%

Malignant

Combined

National

21.81*†, 68.66‡†

Median and mean

Length-of-stay

Good (32)

Hennemann-Krause, 2015 [81]

Brazil

High

3a

PO

12

0%

68‡

42%

U

Malignant

Community/home

Local

195‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Hui, 2015 [82]

Multicentre - USA and Brazil

Very high & High

4b & 3a

PO

357

43%

58‡

55%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Inter-national

6*

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (31)

Kao, 2015 [83]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

462

0%

68‡

30%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

19*, 36.37‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (31)

Kim, 2015 [84]

South Korea

Very high

3a

RO

198

0%

66‡

41%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

18*

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (28)

Kozlov, 2015 [85]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

160

13%

U

U

U

Mixed

General hospital ward

Local

23*, 73.89‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (21)

Lee, 2015 [86]

South Korea

Very high

3a

RO

609

0%

U

52%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

21*

Median

Survival

Fair (24)

Myers, 2015 [87]

Canada

Very high

4b

PO

368

0%

65‡

56%

U

Malignant

Community/home

Local

121*, 171.7‡

Median and mean

Survival

Fair (21)

O’Connor, 2015 [88]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

122

0%

55‡

100%

76%

Malignant

Combined

Local

17*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Pineau, 2015 [89]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

28

0%

U

U

U

Unspecified

SPCU

Local

120‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Poor (13)

Zakhour, 2015 [90]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

55

0%

70‡§

100%

79%§

Malignant

Combined

Local

28*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Bauman, 2016 [91]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

46

0%

64*§

68%

77%

Malignant

Combined

Local

96*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Bennett, 2016 [10]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

4650

0%

75*

49%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

34*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Brooks, 2016 [92]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

650

0%

U

39%

73%

Malignant

Combined

National

21.44*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Brown, 2016 [93]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

7209

U

71‡§

53%§

81%§

Non-malignant

SPCU

National

9*, 45‡

Median and mean

Length-of-stay

Good (29)

Cheraghlou, 2016 [94]

USA

Very high

4b

PO

241

1%

88‡

65%

90%

Mixed

Combined

Regional

15*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Diamond, 2016 [95]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

160

U

63‡

42%

62%

Malignant

Community/home

Local

44.3‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Hamano, 2016 [96]

Japan

Very high

4b

PO

2069

2%

70‡

42%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

28*

Median

Survival

Fair (26)

Jarosek, 2016 [97]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

30,629

0%

U

51%

81%

Malignant

Combined

National

18*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (31)

Jegier, 2016 [98]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

197

26%

66‡

37%

36%

Mixed

SPCU

Local

4.86*†

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (31)

Kierner, 2016 [99]

Austria

Very high

4b

RO

50

0%

62*

62%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

21*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

King, 2016 [100]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

158

U

63*†§

55%§

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

30.24*†

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (29)

Lowe, 2016 [101]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

2922

0%

73‡

47%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

34*

Median

Survival

Good (29)

Masman, 2016 [102]

Netherlands

Very high

4a

PO

58

47%

75*

55%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

36*

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (29)

Obermeyer, 2016 [103]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

254,729

0%

78‡§

50%§

U

Malignant

Combined

National

15*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (24)

Odejide, 2016 [104]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

7810

0%

U

55%

93%

Malignant

Combined

National

12.055*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Perri, 2016 [105]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

235

4%

84‡

54%

U

Non-malignant

SPCU

Local

30‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Porteous, 2016 [106]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

298

56%

U

55%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

9*

Median

Length-of-stay

Good (28)

Rosenwax, 2016 [107]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

5932

0%

76‡§

46%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

25*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Sathornviriyapong, 2016 [108]

Thailand

High

3a

RO

317

28%

63*

49%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

33*

Median

Survival

Good (29)

Schmalz, 2016 [109]

Germany

Very high

4b

PO

269

≥ 4%

70‡

42%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

9.7‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Schur, 2016 [110]

Austria

Very high

4b

RO

2414

0%

73*

52%

U

Mixed

Combined

National

9*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Senderovich, 2016 [111]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

237

U

79‡

59%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

54.05‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Good (30)

Sharma, 2016 [112]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

567

0%

70‡

2%

94%

Malignant

Combined

Local

22.14‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Stevenson, 2016 [113]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

5,519,849

19%

83‡

59%

89%

Mixed

Combined

National

18.91*†, 82.19‡†

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

United States Renal Data System, 2017 [114]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

180,491

0%

69‡§

54%§

67%§

Non-malignant

Combined

National

5*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (19)

Adsersen, 2017 [115]

Denmark

Very high

4a

RO

21,597

0%

70‡

50%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

29*, 64.6‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Chan, 2017 [116]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

165

8%

U

U

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

6.6‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (20)

Choi, 2017 [117]

South Korea

Very high

3a

RO

1829

0%

51‡

63%

U

Malignant

SPCU

National

26.2‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (25)

de la Cruz, 2017 [118]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

329

76%

56‡

55%

63%

Malignant

SPCU

Local

7.02‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Einstein, 2017 [119]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

66

0%

64‡

28%

92%

Malignant

Combined

Local

93.24*†, 144.12‡†

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Forst, 2017 [120]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

7849

0%

72‡

49%

86%

Malignant

Combined

National

21*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Fukui, 2017 [121]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

37,165

15%

82‡

60%

87%

Non-malignant

Combined

National

6.88*†, 17.41‡†

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Harris, 2017 [122]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1972

0%

81*§

51%§

82%§

Mixed

Combined

National

41.04‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Hoverman, 2017 [123]

USA

Very high

4b

PI

345

0%

U

U

U

Malignant

Combined

National

18.93*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (20)

Kaufman, 2017 [124]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1248

23%

78‡

54%

70%

Mixed

Combined

National

27*, 86‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Kelly, 2017 [125]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

81

0%

59*§

35%§

U

Non-malignant

Combined

Local

15*

Median

Survival

Fair (27)

Kuchinad, 2017 [126]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

39

0%

62*

36%

87%

Malignant

Combined

Local

22*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (25)

Lin, 2017 [127]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

22,720

0%

66‡

40%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

9.93‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Lustbader, 2017 [128]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

293

0%

86‡

51%

93%

Mixed

Combined

Regional

22.87*†, 47.07‡†

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (22)

Masel, 2017 [129]

Austria

Very high

4b

RO

91

25%

62*

39%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

16*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (25)

Mercadante, 2017 [130]

Italy

Very high

4b

PO

314

96%

66‡

42%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

7.01‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Good (28)

O’Leary, 2017 [17]

Ireland

Very high

4b

RO

507

0%

U

50%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

70‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Otsuka, 2017 [131]

Japan

Very high

4b

RO

415

0%

72*

40%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

54*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Palmer, 2017 [132]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

3704

0%

U

59%

78%

Mixed

SPCU

Local

17.5*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Pellizzari, 2017 [133]

Italy

Very high

4b

RO

2211

0%

U

42%

U

Malignant

Community/home

Regional

92*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Rivet, 2017 [134]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

82

67%

60*

U

U

Non-malignant

General hospital ward

Local

1*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Sanoff, 2017 [135]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

5056

0%

73*

31%

72%

Malignant

Combined

National

18*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (25)

Scaccabarozzi, 2017 [136]

Italy

Very high

4b

RO

1114

0%

76*

44%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

31*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Schuler, 2017 [137]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

7590

7%

U

51%

89%

Malignant

Combined

National

12*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Senel, 2017 [138]

Turkey

High

3b

PO

213

44%

60‡

41%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

8.64‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Shah, 2017 [139]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

74

11%

75‡

19%

U

Malignant

Unspecified

Local

179.4*

Median

Survival

Good (29)

Sharp, 2017 [140]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

108

U

76‡

32%

U

Non-malignant

Combined

Local

124*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (23)

Tanuseputro, 2017 [19]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

92,276

0%

U

51%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

111.1‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Taylor, 2017 [141]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

2642

0%

U

U

77%§

Malignant

Combined

Regional

20*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Unroe, 2017 [142]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

32,605

15%

80‡

61%

75%

Mixed

Community/home

National

20*, 70.4‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Vayne-Bossert, 2017 [143]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

62

0%

88*§

U

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

103*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Vinant, 2017 [144]

France

Very high

4b

PO

744

26%

72‡

48%

U

Mixed

Combined

Regional

22*

Median

Survival

Good (30)

Waite, 2017 [145]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

49

0%

78*§

51%§

U

Non-malignant

General hospital ward

Local

1.54*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (24)

Wang, Hsu, 2017 [146]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

71,184

0%

78‡§

53%§

87%§

Malignant

Combined

National

10.9‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Wang, Knight, 2017 [147]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

394

U

U

U

U

Malignant

Combined

Regional

14.5*, 31.6‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Wilson, 2017 [148]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

28

0%

75*§

40%§

U

Non-malignant

General hospital ward

Local

0.42*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (32)

Yim, 2017 [149]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

5073

9%

82‡

55%

87%

Non-malignant

Combined

National

15*, 71‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Akdogan, 2018 [150]

Turkey

High

3b

RO

305

57%

80‡

46%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

31.1‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Allsop, 2018 [8]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

42,372

0%

U

48%

75%

Mixed

Combined

National

48*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Assareh, 2018 [151]

Australia

Very high

4b

RO

24,468

0%

U

45%§

U

Mixed

General hospital ward

Regional

6*, 7.6‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Cho, 2018 [152]

Singapore

Very high

4b

RO

25

0%

68‡§

65%§

U

Non-malignant

Combined

Local

8*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Choi, 2018 [153]

South Korea

Very high

3a

RO

1829

0%

68‡

45%

U

Malignant

SPCU

National

26.2‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Good (30)

de Oliveira Valentino, 2018 [154]

Brazil

High

3a

RO

839

0%

62‡§

45%§

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

185.54‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

DinÒ«er, 2018 [155]

Turkey

High

3b

RO

85

46%

84‡

55%

U

Non-malignant

SPCU

Local

15*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Duff, 2018 [156]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

52

0%

66‡

2%

75%

Malignant

Unspecified

Local

21.7*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Dunn. 2018 [157]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

96

0%

76‡§

3%§

U

Mixed

Combined

Local

24‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (22)

Gainza-Miranda, 2018 [158]

Spain

Very high

4a

PO

60

30%

74‡

20%

U

Non-malignant

Community/home

Local

252.49*

Median

Survival

Good (28)

Gidwani-Marszowski, 2018 [159]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

1,467,835

0%

U

0%

90%§

Mixed

Combined

National

14.17*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (30)

Gill, 2018 [160]

USA

Very high

4b

PO

244

0%

87‡

65%

89%

Mixed

Combined

Regional

12.5*, 40.2‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Gurau, 2018 [161]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

316

0.003%

85‡

52%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

25.62‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (25)

Hattori, 2018 [162]

Japan

Very high

4b

PO

1924

0%

68*

43%

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

38.5‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (26)

Hausner, 2018 [163]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

156

0%

66*§

47%§

U

Malignant

SPCU

Local

8*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (25)

Hung, 2018 [164]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

97,614

0%

U

38%

U

Malignant

Combined

National

28*, 62.12‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Hutchinson, 2018 [165]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

5298

0%

U

32%

98%

Malignant

Combined

National

17*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Johnson, 2018 [166]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

101

28%

57*§

53%§

U

Non-malignant

Combined

National

42*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Kaufman, 2018 [167]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

43,737

U

U

56%

U

Mixed

Combined

National

26*, 70‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (24)

LeBlanc, 2018 [168]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

9230

0%

79*§

44%§

87%§

Malignant

Combined

National

9*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Ledoux, 2018 [169]

France

Very high

4b

RO

1

0%

69‡§

38%§

U

Malignant

General hospital ward

Local

1*, 1‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Lo, 2018 [170]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

780

4%

80‡

52%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

32.41‡†

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

McDermott, 2018 [171]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

8351

0.6%

77‡§

49%§

86%§

Malignant

Combined

National

14*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Mendieta, 2018 [172]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

54,105

0%

83‡

49%

71%

Mixed

Combined

National

7.05‡†

Mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (23)

Merchant, 2018 [173]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

25,446

0%

71‡

40%

U

Malignant

Combined

Regional

76§

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Mulville, 2018 [174]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

161

0%

74‡

46%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

10*, 38‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Poor (17)

Nazim, 2018 [175]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

28

0%

80‡§

39%§

U

Non-malignant

General hospital ward

Local

6*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

O'Hare, 2018 [176]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

133,962

4%

70‡§

47%d

65%d

Non-malignant

Combined

National

6*, 23.48‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (24)

Rozman, 2018 [177]

Brazil

High

3a

RO

2985

0%

64‡

45%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

34*, 72.3‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Fair (26)

Shih, 2018 [178]

Taiwan

Very high

4a

RO

3931

0%

72*§

35%§

U

Mixed

Combined

Local

12.69*†

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair(26)

Shinall Jr, 2018 [179]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

3321

50%

68‡

48%

79%

Mixed

SPCU

Local

3*

Median

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Stephens, 2018 [180]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

299

0%

56*§

51%§

U

Mixed

General hospital ward

Local

3*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Vogl, 2018 [181]

Germany

Very high

4b

RO

784

42%

71‡

55%

U

Mixed

SPCU

Local

9.8‡

Mean

Length-of-stay

Fair (27)

Wadhwa, 2018 [182]

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

337

0%

65‡

48%

U

Malignant

Community/home

Local

103.41*, 206.83‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

Good (28)

Yennurajalingam, 2018 [183]

USA

Very high

4b

RO

340

0%

62*

47%

71%

Malignant

Community/home

Local

152.08*

Median

Referral-to-death

Fair (27)

Yoo, 2018 [184]

South Korea

Very high

3a

RO

277

0%

62‡§

39%§

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

45.2‡

Mean

Referral-to-death

Good (31)

Ziegler, 2018 [185]

UK

Very high

4b

RO

1598

0%

U

49%

U

Malignant

Combined

Local

42*

Median

Referral-to-death

Good (29)

Chai (personal commu-nication, Coyte PC, University of Toronto)

Canada

Very high

4b

RO

81

0%

U

U

U

Malignant

Community/home

Local

65*, 111.56‡

Median and mean

Referral-to-death

U

  1. UNDP HDI United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index, WHPCA Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, RO retrospective observational, U unspecified (data neither available nor possible to calculate), SPCU specialist palliative care unit, USA United States of America, UK United Kingdom, PI prospective interventional, PO prospective observational
  2. *Median
  3. †Weighted due to multiple subgroups with individual summaries of duration of palliative care
  4. ‡Mean
  5. §Value for larger cohort of study participants including those not referred to palliative care