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Mini-Suffering State Examination: Suffering and Survival of End-of-Life Cancer Patients in a Hospice Setting

Geriatric Division, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, adunger1{at}sheba.health.gov.il, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

Bechor Zvi Aminoff, MD, PhD

Geriatric Division, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer

Marina Arad, MD

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

Michaela Bercovitch, MD

Tel-Hashomer Hospice Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

The objective of this study was to evaluate suffering of end-of-life cancer patients during their final hospice stay and the possible interrelations with survival. A cohort of consecutive patients hospitalized in an inpatient cancer hospice of a tertiary hospital was used for this study. Patients were evaluated upon admission and once weekly by the Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE). The distribution of patients for each MSSE score group, changes in MSSE scores (total and for each item of scale), and MSSE interrelation with clinical parameters associated with patients' condition during hospitalization were studied. In addition, the interrelation of MSSE score and survival was examined. Documentation of a high suffering level by the MSSE scale helps in identifying end-of-life cancer patients expected to benefit from enrollment in a hospice setting, provides quantitative information about various symptom dimensions, and may improve medical management and facilitate communication between these patients and caregivers.

Key Words: cancer • end of life • hospice • suffering • survival

This version was published on January 1, 2008

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 24, No. 6, 493-498 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1049909107307374


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