Identifying the Prevalence and Correlates of Caregiver-Reported Symptoms in Home Hospice Patients at the End of Life

Symptoms (e.g., pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue) at the end of life (EoL) are common. Although symptoms can contribute to poor quality of life at the EoL, much remains unknown regarding their prevalence and correlates in home hospice care. To determine the prevalence and correlates of caregiver-reported symptoms in home hospice patients during the last week before discharge using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). This is a cross-sectional study measuring perceived patient symptoms using caregiver proxy data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine patient and caregiver characteristics associated with ESAS scores. Subjects were from an urban nonprofit home hospice organization. Symptoms were measured using the ESAS. The mean ESAS score was 51.2 (SD ±17.4). In bivariate analyses, higher perceived symptom score was associated with younger patient age (