Susan Walker1, Sue Read, Helena Priest. 1. Institute for Social Sciences, Keele Universtiy, Staffordshire, ST6 4BG, UK. s.walker@ilcs.keele.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current UK health-care policy suggests that good end-of-life care includes choosing a place for death. This paper examines the extent to which patients' preferred place of death (PPD) is identified, documented, and reviewed in one UK hospice. METHOD: A total of 150 case notes were audited using a data capture form. Case notes of patients who died in January 2008 (n=50), January 2009 (n=50), and January 2010 (n=50) were accessed during September-November 2010. The data are presented using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: PPD was documented in 28 cases (18.6%), conversations about end-of-life preferences were documented in 16 cases (10.6%), and preferences were reviewed in 6 cases (4%). Of the 28 patients whose preferences were documented, 25 (89.2%) died in their stated place of choice. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of PPD identification, documentation, and review were low at this hospice. This raises further research questions about how and why end-of-life choices are being made.
BACKGROUND: Current UK health-care policy suggests that good end-of-life care includes choosing a place for death. This paper examines the extent to which patients' preferred place of death (PPD) is identified, documented, and reviewed in one UK hospice. METHOD: A total of 150 case notes were audited using a data capture form. Case notes of patients who died in January 2008 (n=50), January 2009 (n=50), and January 2010 (n=50) were accessed during September-November 2010. The data are presented using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: PPD was documented in 28 cases (18.6%), conversations about end-of-life preferences were documented in 16 cases (10.6%), and preferences were reviewed in 6 cases (4%). Of the 28 patients whose preferences were documented, 25 (89.2%) died in their stated place of choice. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of PPD identification, documentation, and review were low at this hospice. This raises further research questions about how and why end-of-life choices are being made.
Authors: Vijaya Sundararajan; Megan A Bohensky; Gaye Moore; Caroline A Brand; Carrie Lethborg; Michelle Gold; Michael A Murphy; Anna Collins; Jennifer Philip Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 4.130