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

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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.

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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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palliative Care Clinic, Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jung Jho

  2. Family Medicine Clinic, Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jung Jho, Yoon Jung Chang, Yeol Kim & Hee Jae Choi

  3. Hospice Palliative Care Branch, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggido, 410769, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jung Jho, Yoon Jung Chang, Hye Young Song, Jin Young Choi, Yeol Kim, Eun Jung Park & Soo Jin Paek

  4. Division of Cancer Management Policy, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jung Jho, Yoon Jung Chang, Hye Young Song, Jin Young Choi, Yeol Kim, Eun Jung Park, Soo Jin Paek & Hee Jae Choi

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  1. Hyun Jung Jho
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  2. Yoon Jung Chang
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  3. Hye Young Song
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Correspondence to Yoon Jung Chang.

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Jho, H.J., Chang, Y.J., Song, H.Y. et al. Perceived timeliness of referral to hospice palliative care among bereaved family members in Korea. Support Care Cancer 23, 2805–2811 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2646-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2646-4

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