Satisfaction with end-of-life care: a longitudinal study of patients and their family caregivers in the last months of life.
To determine whether and how ratings of satisfaction with end-of-life (EOL) care change over time and across settings, we administered a satisfaction questionnaire to patients 55 years and older with advanced medical disease and their family caregivers (FCGs). We re-interviewed approximately every two months for a maximum of four visits. Overall, 97 patients and 68 FCGs completed a baseline interview; 57 and 40 completed two interviews, 35 and 22 completed three, and 15 and 10 completed four. Patient satisfaction increased over time and in three of the six questionnaire domains, but this was largely confounded with the location of interview. Satisfaction scores were greater among patients whose baseline interviews occurred at home. FCGs reported increased satisfaction over time; members of the subgroup that cared for patients who died during the study were less satisfied in the spirituality domain during bereavement than prior to their relative's death. Satisfaction with care tends to vary based on location of interview and may vary across time with respect to certain aspects of EOL care.
Clinical Evaluation Research Unit, Angada 4, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7. dkh2@queensu.ca
Daren K
DK
Heyland
Christopher
C
Frank
Joan
J
Tranmer
Nancy
N
Paul
Deborah
D
Pichora
Xuran
X
Jiang
Andrew G
AG
Day
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009864:Ontario; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors