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Process of home health services provided to patients with gastrointestinal cancers in Turkey
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Original Article
VOLUME: 52 ISSUE: 1
P: 48-52
2019

Process of home health services provided to patients with gastrointestinal cancers in Turkey

Acta Haematol Oncol Turc 2019;52(1):48-52
DOI: 10.5505/aot.2019.02411
Fatih Göksel 1
Lütfi Doğan 2
1. Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department Of Radiation Oncology Ankara
2. Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department Of General Surgery, Ankara
3.
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 2019-01-04T14:47:04
Accepted Date: 2019-04-09T13:32:35
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Improvements and innovation in cancer treatment led to prolongation of survival in almost every cancer type. Longer survival of even patients with metastasis has become possible. As a result, there is an increasing number of patients who have survived with the diagnosis of cancer in different stages in need of continuous health support. This is study is designed to evaluate the process of Home Health Services (HHS) provided to patients with gastrointestinal cancers in our country.

METHODS

Patients with a diagnosis of esophageal, gastric, small intestine, colon, rectum, hepatic, pancreatic or bile duct malignancy between 2011 and 2017 were reviewed for HHS coverage, home visit frequency and HHS-providing medical staff.

RESULTS

Cancer patients are the fourth, after patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and orthopedic disorders, that receive HHS support. HHS has started in 2011 with 593 teams in Turkey. The number of teams providing HHS increased to 662 by the end of the year 2017. Total home-visits have dramatically risen from 344,014 to 10,917,965 during a 7-year period. Home-visits to cancer patients have also increased from 7,278 in 2011 to 74,261 in 2017. A total of 89,389 home-visits were made to patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The number of home-visits to patients with gastrointestinal cancers had increased as the incidence of these diseases increased. Data show that colon, gastric and pancreatic cancer patients were among the most visited patients. The number of home-visits by HHS departments showed a steady increase in years. The main reasons for this increase are that the HHS has become a ministerial policy, the number of teams has increased and the access to service has been facilitated and the health professionals and the patients and their relatives had increased awareness.