Family perspectives on communication with healthcare providers during end-of-life cancer care.
OBJECTIVE
To assess healthcare provider communication about end-of-life (EOL) and hospice care with patients with terminal cancer and their families, from the perspective of the family members.


METHODS
Exploratory, qualitative study using focus group discussion.


METHODS
University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center.


METHODS
24 spouses and first-degree relatives of deceased patients with cancer who had been treated at the cancer center from 2000-2002.


METHODS
Family members participated in one of two focus group discussions and completed a short questionnaire regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and the type of EOL care their deceased relatives had received. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were audiotaped and analyzed by comparing, contrasting, and summarizing content themes from the focus groups using NUD IST 5(N5) software.


METHODS
Family perceptions of communication with the healthcare team in EOL cancer care.


RESULTS
Participants associated the information, content, style, language, and timing of communication about EOL and hospice care from healthcare professionals with patient age, attitudes, and compliance with medical decisions. Informed decisions about EOL care by patients and their family members, including the use of hospice services, appeared to be compromised by these types of communication biases.


CONCLUSIONS
Satisfaction with EOL care was associated with the perceived quality of communication among patients, family members, and the healthcare team.


CONCLUSIONS
Study findings highlight the importance of training healthcare professionals in the content, timing, and potential biases associated with information delivery to facilitate informed decisions about EOL and hospice care to dying patients and their families.
Royak-Schaler
Renee
R
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. rroyak@son.umaryland.edu
Gadalla
Shahinaz
S
Lemkau
Jeanne
J
Ross
Douglas
D
Alexander
Carla
C
Scott
Deborah
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*