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38/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 38 out of 100. End-of-life care

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Abstract Objectives More than 50% of patients with dementia visit the emergency department (ED) each year. Patients with dementia experience frequently unrelieved symptoms that can benefit from palliative care . Response to palliative care needs in the ED can be quite challenging and access to palliative care is generally scarce. The aim of this scoping review is to assess ED use and responsiveness to palliative care needs of patients with dementia in their last year of life. Methods A scoping literature review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Electronic search of the literature was undertaken in Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and APA PsycInfo, last updated on 19 February 2024. Results Twenty-four studies were identified and confirmed that patients with dementia frequently resort to the ED near the end of life, frequently more than once in their last year of life. Eight studies directly addressed palliative care needs, suggesting significant rates of palliative care needs among patients with dementia and in comparison, to other oncological or non-oncological conditions. Infections and neuropsychiatric symptoms were the main reasons of admission to the ED. Access to palliative care was confirmed to be low. Significance of results This scoping review indicates that patients with dementia frequently resource to the ED in their last year of life with unmet palliative care needs. Although scarce access to palliative care and the existence of important barriers in the ED, palliative care intervention in this setting can be seen as an opportunity to attend palliative care needs and referral to palliative care services.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Silva, S. V., Conceição, P., Antunes, B., & Teixeira, C. (2025). Emergency department use and responsiveness to the palliative care needs of patients with dementia at the end of life: A scoping review. Palliative & Supportive Care. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1478951524001627

Vancouver

Silva SV, Conceição P, Antunes B, Teixeira C. Emergency department use and responsiveness to the palliative care needs of patients with dementia at the end of life: A scoping review. Palliative & Supportive Care. 2025. doi:10.1017/s1478951524001627. PMID: 39865850.

BibTeX

@article{silva2025-39865850,
  author  = {Silva, Sara Vieira and Conceição, Paulo and Antunes, Bárbara and Teixeira, Carla},
  title   = {{Emergency department use and responsiveness to the palliative care needs of patients with dementia at the end of life: A scoping review}},
  journal = {Palliative \& Supportive Care},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1017/s1478951524001627},
  pmid    = {39865850},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s1478951524001627}
}

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Key findings

Results Twenty-four studies were identified and confirmed that patients with dementia frequently resort to the ED near the end of life, frequently more than once in their last year of life.
Eight studies directly addressed palliative care needs, suggesting significant rates of palliative care needs among patients with dementia and in comparison, to other oncological or non-oncological conditions.
Significance of results This scoping review indicates that patients with dementia frequently resource to the ED in their last year of life with unmet palliative care needs.

Why it matters

This review of 24 studies found that people with dementia often go to the emergency department in their last year of life, often more than once, and that access to palliative care is low. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.

Study details

Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 38/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Palliative & Supportive Care)
Journal's citation record	1 / 4	Palliative & Supportive Care: journal h-index 85 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	2 / 7	Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 4.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	1 / 4	Last-listed author Carla Teixeira: h-index 7 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	2 / 3	University of Cambridge: institution h-index 1,973 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39865850)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	38 / 100	—

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