title: Changes in Perceptions of Opioids Before and After Admission to Palliative Care Units in Japan: Results of a Nationwide Bereaved Family Member Survey.
abstract: This study aimed to clarify perspectives of bereaved family members regarding opioids and compare perceptions before admission and after bereavement. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey for bereaved family members in 100 inpatient palliative care units was administered. Participants were 297 bereaved family members of patients who used opioids. Many bereaved family members had misconceptions of opioids before admission. There was improvement after bereavement, but understanding remained low. Respondents less than 65 years old showed significantly greater decreases in misconceptions regarding opioids compared to older generations, after bereavement. Bereaved family members who were misinformed about opioids by physicians were significantly more likely to have misconceptions about opioids. Educational interventions for physicians are needed to ensure that they offer correct information to the general population.
authors: College of Nursing, Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan ksatomi@kanto-gakuin.ac.jp.
authors: Satomi
authors: S
authors: Kinoshita
authors: Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
authors: Mitsunori
authors: M
authors: Miyashita
authors: Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Morita
authors: Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
authors: Kazuki
authors: K
authors: Sato
authors: Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
authors: Tamana
authors: T
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
authors: Ayaka
authors: A
authors: Shoji
authors: Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
authors: Yurika
authors: Y
authors: Chiba
authors: Department of Palliative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Tsuneto
authors: Department of Palliative Medicine, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Shima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001601:Bereavement; D000072716:Cancer Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: bereaved family; cancer; cancer pain; opioids; palliative care; palliative care unit