Evaluation of a program to celebrate seasonal events for Japanese hospice patients.
OBJECTIVE
Palliative care of the terminally ill requires not only treatment of physical pain, but also care for a patient's spiritual and social needs. In Japan, where many customs correlate closely with the seasons of fall, winter, spring, and summer, seasonal events carry significance for patients who have reached a terminal stage of disease. This study determined how Japanese hospice patients evaluate a program that celebrates seasonal events and considers the modality and significance of season events at hospices.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey was conducted for 1 year between August 2000 and July 2001 at a hospice located in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan. Of the original 48 instruments, a total of 43 instruments were returned (response rate: 89.6%).


RESULTS
Results showed that 72.1% of respondents participated in seasonal events, and the majority of participants positively evaluated their experiences of seasonal events. Positive aspects included being able to get a feeling for the seasons (74.2%) and being able to interact with staff and volunteers (51.6%). Negative aspects included that the events were too long (9.7%) and tiring (6.5%), and that the events made one feel sad (6.5%). Reasons for participating in seasonal events included seeming fun (71.0%), recreative (58.1%), and being entertaining (48.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall findings suggest that there is significance in celebrating the seasons with a monthly event at hospices. Further research is needed on the modality and experiences of celebrating the seasons at hospices in other nations.
Matsushima
Tatsuko
T
Peace House Hospice, Kanagawa, Japan.
Akabayashi
Akira
A
Slingsby
Brian Taylor
BT
Nishitateno
Kenji
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011998:Recreation; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology