Quality Indicators of End-of-Life Cancer Care from the Family Members’ Perspective in Korea
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: The Assessing Care Of Vulnerable Elders project has developed indicators for the quality of the end-of-life (EOL) care.However, family members of cancer patients may have a different view on the quality indicators (QIs) established by health care experts.We evaluated the QIs from the family members' perspective.Methods: The information used in this study was gathered by surveying family members of cancer patients who were admitted to the inpatient hospice ward in Korea.A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 120 potential respondents from July to October 2009.We included 69 responses in this study (effective response rate, 57.5%).Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS for Win ver.14.0, with independent t-test and Pearson's chi-square test.Results: Among QIs for good hospice care, families agreed the most on "Medical examination by the palliative care team or specialist" (88.4%) and "Dying in the family's presence" (88.4%).They agreed the least on "Discussing cardiopulmonary resuscitation with patients" (15.9%).Among QIs for bad hospice care, "Occurrence of fall or pressure ulcer are undesirable" showed the highest agreement rate (94.2%).The lowest agreement rate was 11.6% on "Dying in the hospital is undesirable."In addition, women, patients who were aware of their prognoses, and people with a high socioeconomic status tended to agree more on the QIs.Conclusion: Patients' families did not agree on some of the QIs recommended by previous studies.Family members' characteristics were related to their opinions on QIs.(Korean J Hosp Palliat Care 2011;14:101-109) Key Words: Health care quality indicators, Terminal care, Attitude to death 서 론 세계보건기구 및 많은 나라에서 호스피스ㆍ완화의료 를 말기암환자의 삶의 질 향상을 위한 가장 이상적인 대안으로 제시하고 있다.
Authors: Hyo-Min Kim, Chang-Ho Youn, Hae-Jin Ko
Institution: Kyungpook National University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W783789730