Lone Ross1, Mette Asbjoern Neergaard2, Morten Aagaard Petersen3, Mogens Groenvold3,4. 1. The Research Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2400, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark. Lone.Ross.Nylandsted@regionh.dk. 2. Palliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. 3. The Research Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2400, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark. 4. Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: National recommendations state that Danish patients with complex palliative needs should have access to specialized palliative care but little is known about the perceived quality of this care or end of life care in general. AIM: To assess how end of life care was evaluated by the bereaved spouses and to investigate whether the perceived quality was associated with (1) quantity of specialized palliative care provided, (2) place of death, and (3) emotional state when completing the questionnaire. DESIGN: The bereaved spouses of 1584 cancer patients who had received specialized palliative care were invited to answer the Views Of Informal Carers - Evaluation of Services - Short Form (VOICES-SF) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) approximately 3-9 months after the patient's death. RESULTS: A total of 787 (50%) of the invited spouses participated. In the last 3 months of the patient's life, the quality of all services taken together was rated as good, excellent, or outstanding in 83% of the cases and it was significantly associated with place of death (p = 0.0051, fewest considered it "fair" or "poor" if the patient died at home). In total, 93% reported that the patient died at the right place although only 74% died at the patient's preferred place. Higher levels of anxiety (p = 0.01) but not depression at the time of questionnaire completion was associated with lower satisfaction with the overall quality of care. CONCLUSION: The quality of care was rated very highly by bereaved spouses of patients receiving specialized palliative care.
BACKGROUND: National recommendations state that Danish patients with complex palliative needs should have access to specialized palliative care but little is known about the perceived quality of this care or end of life care in general. AIM: To assess how end of life care was evaluated by the bereaved spouses and to investigate whether the perceived quality was associated with (1) quantity of specialized palliative care provided, (2) place of death, and (3) emotional state when completing the questionnaire. DESIGN: The bereaved spouses of 1584 cancer patients who had received specialized palliative care were invited to answer the Views Of Informal Carers - Evaluation of Services - Short Form (VOICES-SF) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) approximately 3-9 months after the patient's death. RESULTS: A total of 787 (50%) of the invited spouses participated. In the last 3 months of the patient's life, the quality of all services taken together was rated as good, excellent, or outstanding in 83% of the cases and it was significantly associated with place of death (p = 0.0051, fewest considered it "fair" or "poor" if the patient died at home). In total, 93% reported that the patient died at the right place although only 74% died at the patient's preferred place. Higher levels of anxiety (p = 0.01) but not depression at the time of questionnaire completion was associated with lower satisfaction with the overall quality of care. CONCLUSION: The quality of care was rated very highly by bereaved spouses of patients receiving specialized palliative care.
Authors: Anna Thit Johnsen; Morten Aagaard Petersen; Per Sjøgren; Lise Pedersen; Mette Asbjoern Neergaard; Anette Damkier; Christian Gluud; Peter Fayers; Jane Lindschou; Annette S Strömgren; Jan Bjoern Nielsen; Irene J Higginson; Mogens Groenvold Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-08-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Steffen Eychmüller; Susanne Zwahlen; Monica C Fliedner; Peter Jüni; Daniel M Aebersold; Drahomir Aujesky; Martin F Fey; Maud Maessen; Sven Trelle Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2021-04-28 Impact factor: 4.762
Authors: Katherine J Hunt; Alison Richardson; Anne-Sophie E Darlington; Julia M Addington-Hall Journal: BMJ Support Palliat Care Date: 2017-11-03 Impact factor: 3.568
Authors: D A Howell; H I Wang; E Roman; A G Smith; R Patmore; M J Johnson; A Garry; M Howard Journal: BMJ Support Palliat Care Date: 2015-07-08 Impact factor: 3.568