What the study found
Integrating palliative care, meaning care focused on comfort and quality of life for people with serious illness, with lean health care, a method for reducing waste and standardizing processes, was associated with shorter hospital stays in some units in a Brazilian public hospital. The total number of hospital deaths stayed statistically stable, although deaths shifted across care sectors.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that lean standardization and multiprofessional training showed potential to optimize critical resources and reduce waste in the Brazilian Unified Health System. They also say the model aligns with sustainable development goals 3, 10, and 12 by expanding access, reducing inequalities, and promoting dignity at the end of life.
What the researchers tested
The study used a mixed-methods design. It combined qualitative documentary analysis of the Palliative Care Committee and clinical protocols with quantitative analysis of hospital indicators using statistical tests and interrupted time series analysis.
What worked and what didn't
Average length of stay decreased in intensive care/intermediate units from 7.1 to 5.5 days and in wards from 5.6 to 5.0 days. Medical visits increased by 26.9%, while total hospital deaths remained statistically stable; deaths decreased in intermediate units and increased in wards. Interrupted time series analysis with Newey-West correction found an immediate reduction of 0.97 day in ward length of stay, followed by a sustained monthly decrease of 0.135 day.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says the use of aggregated data without individual adjustment limits generalizability. It also notes that future multicenter studies should include outcomes focused on patient quality of life.
Key points
- Palliative care and lean health care were linked with shorter stays in some hospital units.
- Average length of stay fell in ICU/intermediate units and in wards.
- Total hospital deaths remained statistically stable, but deaths shifted from intermediate units to wards.
- Interrupted time series analysis found an immediate and sustained reduction in ward length of stay.
- The authors say aggregated data without individual adjustment limits generalizability.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Lean palliative care was linked to shorter hospital stays
- Authors:
- GABRIEL CIMADA DA SILVA, Robisom Damasceno Calado, Osvaldo Luiz Goncalvez Quelhas, CAMILA MOREIRA DOS SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA, Ana Carolina Sanches Zeferino, Alexandre Beraldi Santos
- Institutions:
- Universidade Federal Fluminense
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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