Evaluation of care for leukemia and lymphoma patients during their last hospitalization from the perspective of the bereaved family.
We aimed to evaluate care for leukemia and lymphoma patients during their last hospitalization from the perspective of the bereaved family. Questionnaires were sent to the bereaved family members of adult leukemia and lymphoma patients. We used the Care Evaluation Scale (CES) and asked the bereaved family members about care satisfaction and "good death" factors during the patient's last week of life or last admission period. We distributed 177 questionnaires and were able to analyze 103 (58.2%) responses. Compared with the results of a previous study of palliative care units in Japan, the CES scores were significantly lower in 9 out of 10 domains. Assessment of the "good death" components revealed that only 33% of respondents agreed that the patient had been relieved as far as possible of pain and physical distress during the last week of life. Only 21.4% of respondents agreed that the patient had been relieved as far as possible of psychological distress, and 57% of caregivers were not satisfied with the level of care. During the last hospitalizations of leukemia or lymphoma patients, their care was insufficient and a good death was not often achieved. Improvement of end-of-life care for leukemia and lymphoma patients is needed.
Department of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Department of Nursing, Asokavihara Hospital, Nashima Shimonoaze 3-3, Joyo, Kyoto 610-0116, Japan. Electronic address: yukishirai-tky@umin.ac.jp.
Yuki
Y
Shirai
Department of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Department of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Seiryo-machi 2-1, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
Mitsunori
M
Miyashita
Department of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Masako
M
Kawa
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Nishi-machi 36-1, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504, Japan.
Toru
T
Motokura
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital,St. Marianna University School of Medicine Yasashi-cho 1197-1, Asahi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 241-0811, Japan.
Fumiaki
F
Sano
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima 1-5-45, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Fukuda
Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Hongo 3-1-3, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Kazuo
K
Oshimi
Department of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Keiko
K
Kazuma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000592:standards; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards
Cancer; End of life care; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Oncology; Palliative care