Utilization and costs of home care for patients with colorectal cancer: a population-based study

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and death in Canada. According to 10-year prevalence data, an estimated 93 489 individuals live with the disease, some of whom may require home care services at some point during the trajectory of their disease. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for certain home care services such as nursing care, personal support and respite care, which are organized and delivered through Community Care Access Centres. The utilization and costs associated with home care services for patients with colorectal cancer is not well understood. Because of the recent focus on community care, we analyzed the utilization and associated costs of such services. We also examined the impact of disease severity at diagnosis and the phase of care on home care utilization and costs. We hypothesized that home care services would be an important part of managing colorectal cancer and that the intensity of services would increase by severity of disease. Methods