Association Between End-of-Life Care Practice in Long-Term Care Facilities and Interprofessional Collaboration With...

This study aimed to examine the association between end-of-life (EOL) care practices in long-term care (LTC) facilities and collaboration with external facilities.

This was a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the Survey for Home Medical Care and Long-Term Care Collaboration, conducted by the Nagasaki City Office. Responses from representatives of LTC facilities were analyzed to assess the association between EOL care practice in LTC facilities and perceived interprofessional collaboration (IPC) with external facilities. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between EOL care practices and IPC with clinics, dental clinics, pharmacies, and home-visit nursing stations, adjusting for facility type, number of residents, presence of a full-time physician, availability of nurses during night shifts or on-call hours, and medical care capacity.

Among the 152 facilities, 86 practiced EOL care. Collaboration with dental clinics was significantly associated with EOL care practice (adjusted OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.06-5.04, p = 0.035). No significant associations were found for collaboration with clinics, pharmacies, or home-visit nursing stations.

EOL care practice in LTC facilities was associated with collaboration with dental clinics. Strengthening IPC, particularly with dental professionals, may enhance the quality of EOL care, thereby serving as an effective strategy for expanding EOL care services in rapidly aging societies.