Futile treatment at the end of patients’ lives is associated with lengthy hospital stays and costing taxpayers millions of dollars, according to new research.
A retrospective study of 907 consecutive adult admissions resulting in death at three public hospitals during six-months in 2012 found 12.1% of patients received non-beneficial treatment during their hospital stay.
The futility of treatment was determined firstly by a nurse-led medical chart audit, followed by three rounds of medical review by senior physicians across a number of specialties.
The study, led by researchers at the Queensland University of Technology, found the average length of hospital stay for patients receiving futile treatment was 15.1 days, including 9.8 days in a ward and 5.3 days in intensive care.
Extrapolated nationally, the study estimated 41,222 bed days in major tertiary hospitals were attributed to futile treatment each year.
“This translated to an annual national health system cost of $153.1 million,” the study said.