title: Bereaved family members' assessments of the quality of end-of-life care: what is important?
abstract: Families of patients are well poised to comment on the end-of-life (EOL) care received by those patients and can provide feedback to care providers and decision makers. To better understand family-member evaluations of the quality of in-patient EOL care, this study draws on qualitative interview data (n = 24) to identify core aspects of EOL care that are important for family members. Based on this analysis, a conceptual framework of family members' assessments of their experiences with EOL health care services is developed. Findings suggest the need to distinguish between perceived substantive or tangible features of received care, interpretations of the causes and symbolic meanings of that care, and personal and affective outcomes. Practitioners are encouraged to reflect on how behaviours and communications may be interpreted by families. Attention also needs to be given to the changes in practice and organizational decision making that can facilitate more positive experiences for families and patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada VBW 2Y2. kis@uvic.ca
authors.forename: Kelli I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Stajduhar
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: S Robin
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Darcee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bidgood
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norgrove
authors.forename: Daren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heyland
mesh_terms: D001601:Bereavement; D002170:Canada; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013727:Terminal Care