title: ["If only I had known it earlier"--the best time to bring a terminal cancer patient back home].
abstract: We gave 44 patients palliative care at home for a period of six years from June 1992 to May 1998. Judging from the satisfaction with medical staff caring for the peaceful passing of 37 cancer patients at home, we considered the factors that prevent patients from gaining access to QOL (Quality of Life) enrichment. In most cases, it is too late to switch from hospital care to home care for the sake of QOL enrichment. We believe it better that a home doctor or visiting nurse have access to such patients as early as possible. To make this possible, it is necessary for the patients, his or her family and the medical staff at the hospital to be aware of the realities and possibilities of palliative care at home. At the same time, it is imperative that the staff working in home medical care endeavor to enhance their readiness to accept the patients and to improve their medical standard.
authors.affiliation: Dochi Pain Clinic.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dochi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osada
mesh_terms: D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D019452:Terminally Ill; D013995:Time