Factors influencing preferences for place of terminal care and of death among cancer patients and their families in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined cancer patient and family member preferences-and the reasons for the preferences-regarding place of terminal care and of death.


METHODS
We constructed a questionnaire that included demographic, clinical, and support network data for 371 patients who were treated at any of the seven university hospitals or the National Cancer Center in Korea and 281 of their family members.


RESULTS
About half of the interviewed patients and half of the family members expressed a preference for the patient being cared for and dying at home. The preference reflected a wish for patients to live out their lives in privacy and to be with their family when their life ended. Those who expressed a preference to be cared for or to die in a hospital wanted to get medical treatment during the last days of life and to relieve their families of the burden of caring for them. Of the variables examined, support network factors and some sociodemographic factors (sex, family members' age, and place of residence) were strongly predictive of preferences.


CONCLUSIONS
A majority of cancer patients preferred to receive terminal care at home. Cancer patients and family members with strong support groups were more likely to prefer the home as the place of terminal care and dying. Hence, improving support networks might increase the proportion of patients receiving home care and dying at home.
Choi
Kui Son
KS
Research Institute, National Cancer Center 809, Madu-dong, Ilsan-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 411-769, South Korea.
Chae
Yoo Mi
YM
Lee
Chang Geol
CG
Kim
Si-young
SY
Lee
Sang-wook
SW
Heo
Dae Seog
DS
Kim
Jun Suk
JS
Lee
Keun Seok
KS
Hong
Young Seon
YS
Yun
Young Ho
YH
D000328:Adult; D003643:Death; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care