Differences in primary palliative care between people with organ failure and people with cancer: An international mortality follow-back study using quality indicators.

Background:Measuring the quality of palliative care in a systematic way using quality indicators can illuminate differences between patient groups.Aim:To investigate differences in the quality of palliative care in primary care between people who died of cancer and people who died of organ failure.Design:Mortality follow-back survey among general practitioners in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain (2013–2014), and Italy (2013–2015). A standardized registration form was used to construct quality indicators regarding regular pain measurement, acceptance of the approaching end of life, communication about disease-related topics with patient and next-of-kin; repeated multidisciplinary consultations; involvement of specialized palliative care; place of death; and bereavement counseling.Setting/participants:Patients (18+) who died non-suddenly of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory disease (n = 2360).Results:In all countries, people who died of cancer scored higher on the quality indicators than peo...