Survey of satisfaction regarding palliative care provided to patients who died at home or in a hospital

Abstract

Improvement in quality of life (QoL) of patients is one of the most important goals of palliative care, but evaluation of QoL of patients is difficult. To evaluate QoL of patients who died at home or in a hospital. We administered the Good Death Inventory (10 core and 8 optional domains) to the bereaved families of patients who died at home or in a hospital. A total of 107 bereaved families undertook a survey. If a bereaved family chose 'somewhat agree', 'agree' or 'absolutely agree', the answer was regarded as a 'satisfactory answer'. Regarding the 10 core domains, of patients who died in a hospital, <50% respondents gave a 'satisfactory answer' to three questions, whereas of patients who died at home, >60% of respondents gave a 'satisfactory answer' to seven questions. Regarding the eight optional domains, of patients who died in a hospital, <50% respondents gave a 'satisfactory answer' to five questions, whereas of patients who died at home, >60% of respondents gave a 'satisfactory answer' to four questions. QoL of patients who died at home appeared higher than that of those who died in a hospital. Patients prefer to remain at home rather than in a hospital, probably because at home they are surrounded by familiar things and can live according to their usual habits.