PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kate Renton
AU  - Anton-Paul Thomas Mayer
AU  - Lilias Alison
AU  - Daniel Yeomanson
TI  - Factors associated with place of death for children in South Yorkshire: a retrospective cohort study
AID  - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001584
DP  - 2020 Mar 01
TA  - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
PG  - e10--e10
VI  - 10
IP  - 1
4099  - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/10/1/e10.short
4100  - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/10/1/e10.full
SO  - BMJ Support Palliat Care2020 Mar 01; 10
AB  - Objectives Place of death (POD) is considered a key quality indicator for adult end of-life care, but paediatric evidence is limited. Data from Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) databases provides an opportunity to describe trends in POD as regional paediatric palliative medicine (PPM) options have increased. Aims were to identify and describe trends in POD for children in South Yorkshire.Methods Retrospective cohort study. Anonymised data extracted from five CDOP databases 2008–2015. Data included age, gender, ethnicity, postcode (outward code only), POD, classification and category of death. Descriptive statistical analysis using χ2 test was used to assess intergroup differences.Results 748 deaths were notified from 2008 to 2015. Neonatal deaths were excluded, 46% (n=345). Of non-neonatal deaths (n=403), 58% (n=232) were ‘expected’. Of expected deaths (n=232), 19% (n=45) died in home, 19% (n=45) died in hospice and 61% (n=141) died in hospital. This was significantly different from comparable national data which showed considerably more hospital deaths. There was no significant change in POD over time.Conclusion Hospital remains the POD for most children, whether deaths are ‘expected’ or not, suggesting specialised PPM should be expanded into the hospital setting. More research is needed regarding preference for POD. This study may help inform future service planning for PPM and hospice development.