Supportive Care in Cancer

, Volume 23, Issue 9, pp 2805–2811 | Cite as

Perceived timeliness of referral to hospice palliative care among bereaved family members in Korea

  • Hyun Jung Jho
  • Yoon Jung Chang
  • Hye Young Song
  • Jin Young Choi
  • Yeol Kim
  • Eun Jung Park
  • Soo Jin Paek
  • Hee Jae Choi
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to explore the perceived timeliness of referral to hospice palliative care unit (HPCU) among bereaved family members in Korea and factors associated therewith.

Methods

Cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed for bereaved family members of patients who utilized 40 designated HPCUs across Korea. The questionnaire assessed whether admission to the HPCU was “too late” or “appropriate” and the Good Death Inventory (GDI).

Results

A total of 383 questionnaires were analyzed. Of participants, 25.8 % replied that admission to HPCU was too late. Patients with hepatobiliary cancer, poor performance status, abnormal consciousness level, and unawareness of terminal status were significantly related with the too late perception. Family members with younger age and being a child of the patient were more frequently noted in the too late group. Ten out of 18 GDI scores were significantly lower in the too late group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed patients’ unawareness of terminal status, shorter stay in the HPCU, younger age of bereaved family, and lower scores for two GDI items (staying in a favored place, living without concerning death or disease) were significantly associated with the too late group.

Conclusions

To promote timely HPCU utilization and better quality of end of life care, patients need to be informed of the terminal status and their preference should be respected.

Keywords

Hospice Palliative care Referral Appropriateness 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant from the National Cancer Center (Grant 1310241-2).

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hyun Jung Jho
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Yoon Jung Chang
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Hye Young Song
    • 3
    • 4
  • Jin Young Choi
    • 3
    • 4
  • Yeol Kim
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Eun Jung Park
    • 3
    • 4
  • Soo Jin Paek
    • 3
    • 4
  • Hee Jae Choi
    • 2
    • 4
  1. 1.Palliative Care Clinic, HospitalNational Cancer CenterGoyangRepublic of Korea
  2. 2.Family Medicine Clinic, HospitalNational Cancer CenterGoyangRepublic of Korea
  3. 3.Hospice Palliative Care Branch, National Cancer Control InstituteNational Cancer CenterGoyang-siRepublic of Korea
  4. 4.Division of Cancer Management Policy, National Cancer Control InstituteNational Cancer CenterGoyangRepublic of Korea

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