Determinants of family satisfaction with inpatient palliative care in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to identify which structures and processes of care are key determinants of overall satisfaction with palliative care.


METHODS
A nationwide, multicentre, cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with 501 bereaved family members of terminal cancer patients (effective response rate: 20.9 percent). Structures and processes were evaluated using the Care Evaluation Scale (CES).


RESULTS
In univariate analyses, all domains of the CES were significantly associated with overall satisfaction with care. In multivariate analyses, the domains of physical care by physician, physical care by nurse, environment, and coordination positively influenced overall satisfaction. After case-mix adjustment, physical care by nurse, age of patient, and lower education level of bereaved family member remained as significant determinants.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding that nursing is the most critical determinant of overall satisfaction within many structure and process domains has an important implication for clinical quality improvement and resource allocation.
Department of Family Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea. dwshin@snuh.org
Chang-Hae
CH
Park
Dong-Wook
DW
Shin
Jin Young
JY
Choi
Jina
J
Kang
Ha Na
HN
Mo
Young Ji
YJ
Baik
Yeo Hwan
YH
Kim
Min Joo
MJ
Kang
Jung Im
JI
Gwak
Jeong Ja
JJ
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*