The quality of care of the dying in hospital—next-of-kin perspectives

Heckel M, Vogt AR, Stiel S, Radon J, Kurkowski S, Goebel S, Ostgathe C, Weber M (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Supportive Care in Cancer Springer

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05465-2

Abstract

Purpose: Providing high-quality care for the dying is essential in palliative care. Quality of care can be checked, compared, and improved by assessing responses from bereaved next-of-kin. The objectives of this study are to examine quality of care in the last 2 days of life of hospitalized patients considering specific aspects of their place of care. Methods: The “Care of the Dying Evaluation” (CODE™) questionnaire, validated in German in 2018 (CODE-GER), examines quality of care for the patient and support of next-of-kin, allocating values between 0 (low quality) and 4 (high quality). The total score (0–104) is divided into subscales which indicate support/time given by doctors/nurses, spiritual/emotional support, information/decision-making, environment, information about the dying process, symptoms, and support at the actual time of death/afterwards. Next-of-kin of patients with an expected death in specialized palliative care units and other wards in two university hospitals between April 2016 and March 2017 were included. Results: Most of the 237 analyzed CODE-GER questionnaires were completed by the patient’s spouse (42.6%) or children (40.5%) and 64.1% were female. Patients stayed in hospital for an average of 13.7 days (3–276; SD 21.1). Half of the patients died in a specialized palliative care unit (50.6%). The CODE-GER total score was 85.7 (SD 14.17; 25–104). Subscales were rated significantly better for palliative care units than for other wards. Unsatisfying outcomes were reported in both groups in the subscales for information/decision-making and information about the dying process. Conclusion: The overall quality of care for the dying was rated to be good. Improvements of information about the dying process and decision-making are needed. Trial registration: DRKS00013916

Authors with CRIS profile

Maria Heckel Department of Palliative Medicine Sandra Kurkowski Department of Palliative Medicine Christoph Ostgathe Professur für Palliativmedizin

Involved external institutions

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH) / Hannover Medical School DE Germany (DE) Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Heckel, M., Vogt, A.R., Stiel, S., Radon, J., Kurkowski, S., Goebel, S.,... Weber, M. (2020). The quality of care of the dying in hospital—next-of-kin perspectives. Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05465-2

MLA:

Heckel, Maria, et al. "The quality of care of the dying in hospital—next-of-kin perspectives." Supportive Care in Cancer (2020).

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