title: How can we improve care at the end of life in Connecticut? Recommendations from focus groups.
abstract: A qualitative study to elicit views among residents of Connecticut about death, dying, preferences for care, and gaps in available care was conducted for the Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Care. Twenty-eight focus groups were convened across the state between May 1999 and March 2001. The focus groups included adolescents and adults from diverse religious, ethnic, and professional backgrounds. A total of 196 individuals participated in the 90-minute sessions. Trained moderators conducted the discussion groups following a guide. Transcriptions of the groups were coded to identify themes. Thirty-two recommendations to improve care based on the focus group discussions are presented. These are grouped under the following actions: 1) enhance public education; 2) offer better professional provider education and support; and 3) augment services. The recommendations are illustrated with quotations from the focus groups.
authors.affiliation: New England Research Institutes, 9 Galen Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA. sarahm@neri.org
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McGraw
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dobihal
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baggish
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D003237:Connecticut; D017144:Focus Groups; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006266:Health Education; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010327:Pastoral Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods