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Where people die in Victoria
C A Clifford1, D J Jolley, G G Giles
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|October 7, 1991
Summary
Most deaths in Victoria occur in public hospitals, with sociodemographic factors influencing location. Dying at home is less common and depends on caregiver support.
Area of Science:
- Public health
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Understanding where deaths occur is crucial for resource allocation and healthcare planning.
- Sociodemographic factors and cause of death can influence place of death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the distribution of deaths across different locations in Victoria.
- To analyze the association between cause of death, sociodemographic variables, and place of death.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study utilizing death certificates from a three-month period in 1988.
- Multivariate analysis of 7697 deaths in the State of Victoria.
- Key variables included cause of death, age, sex, marital status, and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- Public hospitals were the most common place of death (48%), followed by private homes (21%) and nursing homes (14%).
- Hospice inpatient deaths were rare (2%), predominantly from cancer.
- Women were more likely to die in nursing homes and less likely to die at home compared to men. Age and socioeconomic status predicted public hospital deaths, while age and marital status predicted private home deaths.
Conclusions:
- Hospice inpatient care is uncommon in Victoria; its effect on home deaths is unknown.
- Caregiver availability, particularly a spouse, is a significant factor for those preferring to die at home.