Bereaved Family Members’ Satisfaction with Care during the Last Three Months of Life for People with Advanced Illness

Abstract

Background: Studies evaluating the end-of-life care for longer periods of illness trajectories and in several care places are currently lacking. This study explored bereaved family members’ satisfaction with care during the last three months of life for people with advanced illness, and associations between satisfaction with care and characteristics of the deceased individuals and their family members. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample was 485 family members of individuals who died at four different hospitals in Sweden. Results: Of the participants, 78.7% rated the overall care as high. For hospice care, 87.1% reported being satisfied, 87% with the hospital care, 72.3% with district/county nurses, 65.4% with nursing homes, 62.1% with specialized home care, and 59.6% with general practitioners (GPs). Family members of deceased persons with cancer were more likely to have a higher satisfaction with the care. A lower satisfaction was more likely if the deceased person had a higher educational attainment and a length of illness before death of one year or longer. Conclusion: The type of care, diagnoses, length of illness, educational attainment, and the relationship between the deceased person and the family member influences the satisfaction with care.

Improving regional care in the last year of life by setting up a pragmatic evidence-based Plan–Do–Study–Act cycle: results from a cross-sectional survey

“…All variables were dichotomised as applied in previous VOICES studies. 34 38–40 The dependent variable (‘Overall, do you feel that the care he/she got from the doctors in the hospital on that admission was: good, rather good, rather bad, bad?’) was merged into the most positive response to the question versus all other responses. The independent variables comprised sociodemographic variables of the deceased patients (age, gender, family situation and power of attorney) and variables concerning service provision (care by a specialist palliative home care team, treated with respect and dignity by the hospital doctors, relief of pain on last hospital admission, relief of other symptoms on last hospital admission and coordination of care on last hospital admission).…”

Aggressive End-of-Life Care and Caregiver Satisfaction for Patients With Advanced Cancer

“…5,6 Furthermore, caregivers' experiences may vary during the patient's EOL trajectory of care since patients and their families often experience changes in treatment plans, settings, and health care providers. 7 According to the study by Aoyama et al, 8 14% and 17% of caregivers suffered from complicated grief and major depressive disorder after patient death, respectively. Also, caregiver satisfaction with care had a significant impact on bereaved caregivers' complicated grief, depression, and quality of life.…”