Prescribing Patterns of End-of-Life Medication for Compassionate Discharge: A Retrospective Observational…

Cohort studyJournal of palliative care· Jul 2026

Prescribing Patterns of End-of-Life Medication for Compassionate Discharge: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

Yu Qing Elysia Ong, Poh Heng Chong, Xu Yi Ling … Komal Tewani

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Palliative & End-of-LifeCohort studyClinical practiceQ2IF 2.5

Opioids were the most commonly prescribed anticipatory medication for home hospice patients.

Prescribing Patterns of End-of-Life Medication for Compassionate Discharge: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

Yu Qing Elysia Ong … Komal Tewani

Journal of palliative care · Jul 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Purpose

In Singapore, where home is often the preferred place of death, compassionate discharge enables acutely deteriorating patients in hospital to die in their location of choice.

Methods

Were prescribed a median of 2 classes of anticipatory medications at compassionate discharge, increasing to 4 by the time of death.

Results

opioids were the top prescribed class, far ahead of other medication types

89.9%

Opioids

86.8%

Antisecretory drugs

86%

Sedatives

More results

ResultsA median of one medication was prescribed per patient.

Cancer patients required significantly more medications compared to non-cancer patients ( P = .001).

Medication most frequently prescribed included fentanyl, hyoscine butylbromide, and haloperidol (81.4%, 76.0%, and 71.3% of the study population, respectively).

More results

This difference was statistically significant ( P < .001).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Cancer patients exhibited higher overall drug burden, but this may require further evaluation for confounders.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Further studies evaluating the usage of anticipatory medications at the end of life can further refine anticipatory prescribing practices to reduce drug wastage.

Prescribing Patterns of End-of-Life Medication for Compassionate Discharge: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

Prescribing Patterns of End-of-Life Medication for Compassionate Discharge: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

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