Table 3 Structures and processes of PC inpatient and outpatient clinical services in Chinese hospitals participating in the study

PC inpatient beds, with or without dedicated PC department

0.010

 Yes

69

30.5 (24.5–36.5)

38

46.3 (35.5–57.1)

 No

157

69.5 (63.5–75.5)

44

53.7 (42.5–64.5)

Hospitals with inpatient PC beds

69

38

 Mean number of beds

30.6

19.7

0.028

 Mean time since initiation of PC program

       > 3years

49

71.0

20

52.6

0.060

 Reasons for admission to inpatient PC unit, median % [IQR]

       Dying

20.0 [10.0–50.0]

20.0 [5.0–60.0]

0.817

       Urgent symptom control

20.0 [10.0–40.0]

20.0 [5.0–50.0]

0.647

       Psychosocial issue

6.0 [3.8–10.0]

5.0 [0.0–11.5]

0.427

       Family’s inability to continue to care for the patient

10.0 [5.0–20.0]

5.0 [0.0–12.5]

0.144

       Other reason

5.0 [1.0–10.0]

4.0 [0.0–29.5]

0.562

 Proportion of PC inpatients receiving regular psychosocial assessment

0.647

       0%

8

11.6 (4.0–19.1)

6

15.8 (4.2–27.4)

       1–25%

28

40.6 (29.0–52.2)

12

31.6 (16.8–46.4)

       26–100%

33

47.8 (35.7–59.9)

20

52.6 (36.0–69.3)

 Family meeting during inpatient PC

0.831

       0%

7

10.1 (3.0–17.3)

3

7.9 (− 0.7–16.5)

       1–25%

35

50.7 (38.9–62.5)

20

52.6 (36.8–68.5)

       26–50%

11

15.9 (7.3–24.6)

8

21.1 (8.1–34.0)

       51–75%

8

11.6 (4.0–19.1)

5

13.2 (2.4–23.9)

       76–100%

8

11.6 (4.0–19.1)

2

5.3 (− 1.8–12.4)

 Proportion of inpatients with DNR orders

0.275

       0%

4

5.8 (0.3–11.3)

3

7.9 (− 0.7–16.5)

       1–25%

13

18.8 (9.6–28.1)

12

31.6 (16.8–46.4)

       26–50%

13

18.8 (9.6–28.1)

2

5.3 (− 1.8–12.4)

       51–75%

12

17.4 (8.4–26.3)

6

15.8 (4.2–27.4)

       76–100%

27

39.1 (27.6–50.6)

15

39.5 (23.9–55.0)

 PC consultations for inpatients available

0.492

       Yes

103

45.6 (39.1–52.1)

41

50.0 (39.2–60.8)

       No

123

54.4 (47.9–60.9)

41

50.0 (39.2–60.8)

Hospitals offering inpatient PC consultation

103

41

 Availability of consultations

0.770

       24 h/day, 7 days/week

36

35.0 (25.7–44.2)

17

41.5 (26.4–56.5)

       24 h/day, weekdays only

13

12.6 (6.2–19.0)

3

7.3 (− 0.7–15.3)

       8 h/day, weekdays only

48

46.6 (37.0–56.2)

19

46.3 (31.1–61.6)

       Other

6

5.8 (1.3–10.3)

2

4.9 (− 1.7–11.5)

 Median referrals per month, n [IQR]

10.0 [5.0–15.0]

10.0 [5.0–20.0]

0.440

 Median days from referral to death, n [IQR]

50.0 [30.0–90.0]

60.0 [30.0–117.5]

0.434

 Department or unit requesting consultation

       Emergency department

34

33.0 (23.9–42.1)

12

29.3 (15.3–43.2)

       Medical oncology

86

83.5 (76.3–90.7)

39

95.1 (88.5–101.7)

       Surgery

59

57.3 (47.7–66.8)

29

70.7 (56.8–84.7)

       Hematology

43

41.7 (32.2–51.3)

12

29.3 (15.3–43.2)

       Radiation oncology

48

46.6 (37.0–56.2)

28

68.3 (54.0–82.5)

       Other

31

30.1 (21.2–39.0)

5

12.2 (2.2–22.2)

 Outpatient PC clinic available

0.029

       Yes

38

16.8 (11.9–21.7)

23

28.0 (18.3–37.8)

       No

188

83.2 (78.3–88.1)

59

72.0 (62.2–81.7)

Hospitals with an outpatient PC clinic

38

23

    Type of outpatient PC clinic:

0.004

       Dedicated palliative care outpatient clinic

6

15.8 (4.2–27.4)

6

26.1 (8.1–44.0)

       Oncology clinic

28

73.7 (59.7–87.7)

7

30.4 (11.6–49.2)

       Other

4

10.5 (0.8–20.3)

10

43.5 (23.2–63.7)

    PC clinic days/week, n

5.0 (3.0–5.0)

5.0 (2.0–5.0)

0.800

    Patents visiting PC clinic/month, n

50.0 (20.0–175.0)

100.0 (20.0–300.0)

0.322

    Time from first PC clinic visit to death, days

85.0 (46.5–97.5)

60.0 (30.0–135.0)

0.922

    Patient referred to PC clinic from:

       Emergency department

14

36.8 (21.5–52.2)

8

34.8 (15.3–54.2)

0.871

       Medical oncology

36

94.7 (87.6–101.8)

21

91.3 (79.8–102.8)

0.600

       Surgery

13

34.2 (19.1–49.3)

11

47.8 (27.4–68.2)

0.291

       Hematology

17

44.7 (28.9–60.5)

4

17.4 (1.9–32.9)

0.029

       Radiation oncology

13

34.2 (19.1–49.3)

11

47.8 (27.4–68.2)

0.291

       Patient self

33

86.8 (76.1–97.6)

18

78.3 (61.4–95.1)

0.380

       Other

7

18.4 (6.1–30.7)

4

17.4 (1.9–32.9)

0.919