title: ["Good dying"--definition and current state of research].
abstract: The advances of modern medicine did not only result in prolongation of life expectancy, but also led to a shift from dying at home to dying in public institutions. In western countries most people die at advanced age in medical facilities. Hence, the question regarding the conditions, which should be provided by society and especially medicine, to allow terminally ill people to experience "good dying" is substantial. For this purpose, an examination of patients', family members' and health care providers' understanding of the term " good dying" is required. The present paper aims at shedding light on the term "good dying" and to summarize the current state of research. Therefore, the attributes of "good dying" will be described from the perspectives of patients, family members and health care providers, which are discussed and examined in current medical-sociological research. These attributes can be illustrated on three dimensions: Quality of life at the end of life (e. g. pain relief, mental well-being), quality of dying (e. g. avoiding prolonged dying, autonomy, presence of relatives) and quality of health care at the end of life (e. g. patient-oriented health care, positive communication between health care providers and patients, availability of guidelines). Although the attributes of "good dying" are described in detail in the existing literature, further studies have to clarify the relevance and impact of these attributes as predictors of "good dying".
authors: Bereich Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg.
authors: Nico
authors: N
authors: Hutter
authors: Bereich Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg.
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Stößel
authors: Bereich Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg.
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Meffert
authors: Bereich Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg.
authors: Mirjam
authors: M
authors: Körner
authors: Institut für Ethik und Geschichte der Medizin, Universität Freiburg.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Bozzaro
authors: Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors: Gerhild
authors: G
authors: Becker
authors: Bereich Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Freiburg.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Baumeister
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012297:Right to Die / Q000941:ethics*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*