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Table 1 Characteristics of the 79 decedents from the Family Health Team

From: Frequency of providing a palliative approach to care in family practice: a chart review and perceptions of healthcare practitioners in Canada

Characteristic

N (%) or mean, standard deviation (SD)

Mean (SD) age at death, y

73.1 (14.7)

Age range, y

37 to 99

Female sex

43 (54.4)

Marital status

 Not in a relationship

18 (22.8)

 In a relationship (not living together)

3 (3.8)

 Married or common-law (living together)

35 (44.3)

 Not documented in chart

23 (29.1)

Education status

 Did not complete high school

1 (1.3)

 Completed high school

0 (0.0)

 Had some university education or completed a community college, technical college, or post-secondary program (ex. trade, technical, or vocational school)

2 (2.5)

 University degree (ex. BA, BSc, BSN)

5 (6.3)

 Graduate degree (ex. MD, DDS, DMD, DVM, OD, Master’s, or PhD)

2 (2.5)

 Not documented in chart

69 (87.3)

Residence status

 At home (apartment/townhouse/bungalow)

60 (75.9)

 Retirement residence

4 (5.1)

 Supportive housing (group home/assisted living)

2 (2.5)

 Long-term care or nursing home

1 (1.3)

 Vulnerable housing (shelter/transition home/no home/subsidized housing)

0 (0.0)

 Not documented in chart

12 (15.2)

Living alone prior to death

 Yes

16 (20.3)

 No

43 (54.4)

 Not documented in chart

20 (25.3)

Living with their caregiver

 Yes

42 (53.2)

 No

13 (16.5)

 Not documented in chart

24 (30.4)

Identified a caregiver in their chart

 Yes

63 (79.7)

 No

16 (20.3)

Documented caregiver presence at office visits

 Yes

47 (59.5)

 No

32 (40.5)

Documented caregiver’s concerns being addressed

 Yes

39 (49.4)

 No

40 (50.6)

Documented caregiver’s well being addressed

 Yes

12 (15.2)

 No

67 (84.8)

Documentation of chronic life-limiting illness

 Cancer

39 (49.4)

 Cardiac disease

32 (40.5)

 Mental health

18 (22.8)

 Lung disease

12 (15.2)

 Frailty

11 (13.9)

 Renal disease

10 (12.7)

 Dementia

9 (11.4)

 Liver disease

7 (8.9)

 Stroke

6 (7.6)

 Neurodegenerative disease

1 (1.3)

 Other

7 (8.9)

Illness most responsible for death

 Cancer

33 (41.8)

 Cardiac disease

16 (20.3)

 Mental health

3 (3.8)

 Stroke

3 (3.8)

 Frailty

2 (2.5)

 Liver disease

2 (2.5)

 Lung disease

2 (2.5)

 Dementia

1 (1.3)

 Neurodegenerative disease

1 (1.3)

 Renal Disease

1 (1.3)

 Other

15 (19.0)

Documented chronic life-limiting illnesses, mean (SD)

1.9 (0.9)