title: [Important aspects of end-of-life care. Survey of patients visiting the primary care office].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Death and dying are still taboo topics in Hungary. The care of the dying, the adequate relief of their symptoms and the psychosocial support of both patients and their caregivers are not yet well addressed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Authors obtained information about the feelings and thoughts of patients on death and dying, and about their expectations for end-of-life care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mailed questionnaire was send to a convenience sample of 29 adult primary care offices where a total of 845 unselected patients completed the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than two thirds (69%) of respondents would like to receive end of life care in their home. Only 19% of respondents would prefer to die in a hospital. Respondents' greatest fear was to lose their autonomy (55%). The second most noted concern was fear from pain (38%). According to 93% of the participants, truth telling is very important in the event of terminal illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hungarian patients prefer to receive end of life care in their home. Our data support the need for improvement in three primary areas, physician communication skills, pain and symptom management, and expansion of home hospice care.
authors.affiliation: Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar, Családorvostani Intézet, Pécs, Akác u. 1. 7632.
authors.forename: Ágnes
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Csikós
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Csilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busa
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kállai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data