[Has the care of dying patients in hospitals changed? A study of terminal care at the Diaconal hospital in 1977 and 1987].

A research project conducted at the Norwegian Lutheran Hospital in 1977 (213 deaths) was repeated in 1987 (100 deaths). The purpose was to discover if and how terminal care had changed during the ten years. Data sources were case records, nurses' reports, interviews with closest relatives about 12 weeks after the death (response 95% in 1977 and 72% in 1987). Openness about death had not increased. There was some improvement of palliative treatment. In 1987, 79% of all terminal patients had received such treatment, compared with 51% in 1977. The percentage receiving life prolonging treatment, such as parenteral supply of fluids, had fallen from 62% in 1977 to 25% in 1987, and the percentage treated with antibiotics from 31% in 1977 to 15% ten years later.