title: Improving end-of-life care in hospitals: a qualitative analysis of bereaved families' experiences and suggestions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore and document the experiences and expectancies of bereaved family members concerning the end-of-life (EOL) care of their deceased relative in a general hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire that included open-ended questions. Free-text answers were evaluated with qualitative content analysis. A total of 270 family members provided information about improvements in inpatient care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Families described structural deficiencies. Furthermore, they requested a more holistic patient health care beyond medical treatment and expressed the wish for more professional support for families.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The view of bereaved families confirmed the need for improvement in general hospital EOL care. The results underline the importance of a more holistic EOL care. The application of communication skills training, structured family meetings, and integrated pathways is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Unit, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bussmann
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Unit, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muders
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Unit, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Corinna Aruna
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zahrt-Omar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Pinzon Luis Carlos
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, NRW-Junior Research Group "Medical Ethics at the End of Life: Norm and Empiricism", Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schildmann
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Unit, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany Martin.Weber@unimedizin-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D001601:Bereavement; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
keywords: bereaved family; end of life; general hospital; palliative care; qualitative research; quality of care