title: The preferred place of last days: results of a representative population-based public survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The place of death is of considerable interest now, yet few studies have determined public preferences for place of end-of-life (EOL) care or final days of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A survey was designed to answer three questions: (1) What are public preferences for the place of last days? (2) Is this place preference related to socio-demographic and other background characteristics? and (3) Is this place preference associated with specified previous death and dying experiences, the preparation of a living will or advance directive, or a viewpoint supportive of death hastening?
  
  
  METHODS
  An experienced telephone survey company was commissioned to gain a representative population-based sample and survey participants. In mid-2010, 1203 adults were surveyed in Alberta. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This survey revealed 70.8% preferred to be at home near death; while 14.7% preferred a hospice/palliative care facility, 7.0% a hospital, and 1.7% a nursing home; 5.7% had no stated preference. Marital status was the only predictor of place preference, with widowed persons more often indicating a preference for a hospital or hospice/palliative care facility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest homes are the preferred EOL place now for the majority of Albertans, if not other citizens, while at the same time suggesting that marital and living arrangement realities temper EOL place choices and possibilities, with widows best realizing the need for assistance from others when dying. The widespread preference for home-based EOL care indicates public health interventions are needed to promote good home deaths.
authors: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. donna.wilson@ualberta.ca
authors: Donna M
authors: DM
authors: Wilson
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Cohen
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Deliens
authors: Jessica A
authors: JA
authors: Hewitt
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Houttekier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care