Place of death in the population dying from diseases indicative of palliative care need: a cross-national population-level study in 14 countries

Pivodic et al 1 provide important new insight into place of death both cross-nationally and for different diagnostic groups. Their analysis of death certificate data in 15 countries reveals important evidence to inform end-of-life policy, as only between 13% and 25% died at home; 25–85% died in hospital. Given the broad preference for home death in the literature, and lower costs of home death, the authors rightly call for improved health policy in this field. Their use of cross-national death certificate data …