The association of marital status and hospice use in the USA.

Lackan, Nuha A; Ostir, Glenn V; Kuo, Yong-Fang; Freeman, Jean L · Palliat Med · 2005

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

Married individuals are more likely to use hospice than unmarried individuals. We examine this association and how it is influenced by gender. Medicare beneficiaries dying of cancer were studied. Currently married (OR 1.36 95% C.I. 1.28-1.45) or ever married (OR 1.23 95% C.I. 1.16-1.31) subjects were more likely to use hospice than never married subjects. A significant interaction between marital status and gender (P < .001) was observed. Subjects likely to enroll in hospice are subjects likely to have greater supportive relationships.

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