#Timely manner or matter free

It is generally accepted from studies carried out to date that good care at end of life is characterised by the careful management of pain and other symptoms, patient dignity and independence, family involvement and support, awareness of death and good communication with healthcare professionals. In addition, often basic nursing care needs and symptom control are not adequately managed. One of the key factors identified as contributing to sub-optimal care is a lack of open communication particularly, a lack of information regarding the condition and prognosis of the person who died. Previous studies have shown that there is wide variation in the quality of EoLC in acute hospital settings. Despite many people expressing a preference to die at home, research has indicated that four in ten (43%) of all people in Ireland die in an acute hospital with 6% dying in a hospice. A cross-national comparison of location of death indicated that across 40 populations, all deaths occurring in hospitals were reported to be between 40 and 60%. For many seriously ill people across the world, dying in an acute hospital is a common occurrence. This study contributes to our understanding and knowledge of what good EoLC looks like and where care can be improved, thus enabling hospitals to direct and inform quality improvement.Įnd-of-life care (EoLC) is an experience that touches the lives of everyone.

Seeking the views of bereaved relatives should be considered by all hospitals and healthcare settings to ascertain the quality of care at end of life. ConclusionsĪcute hospitals need to ensure that patients and their relatives receive high quality EoLC. The remaining three themes relate more to the interpersonal context including whether patients are treated with dignity and respect, the psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their family members and communication. Two themes relate to how care needs are met and how the hospital environment has a critical influence on EoLC experiences. Several key themes emerged, indicating areas that require particular attention in EoLC. Three quarters (75%: n = 268) responded to at least one of the open-ended questions. Qualitative data were managed, coded and analysed with NVivo 10, using a template analysis framework approach. A total of 356 valid questionnaires were returned. VOICES MaJam has 29 core questions, seven questions requesting personal demographic information and four open-ended questions gathering descriptive data about the care experience during the patient’s last admission to hospital. This was a quantitative descriptive post-bereavement postal survey, gathering data retrospectively from relatives or friends of patients who died, utilising an adapted version of the VOICES (Views of Informal Carers - Evaluation of Services) questionnaire.

#Timely manner or matter free

This paper reports on the qualitative analysis of open-ended free text questions that were asked as part of a post-bereavement survey conducted in two adult acute hospitals in Ireland. Assessing and measuring the quality of care provided is a key component of all healthcare systems. Previous studies have shown that there is wide variation in EoLC and at times is experienced as being of poor quality. Dying in an acute hospital is a common occurrence in developed countries across the world. End-of-life care (EoLC) is an experience that touches the lives of everyone.