Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
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Quantity over Quality? Perception of Designating Long-Term Care Hospitals as Providers of Hospice and Palliative Care

  • Kim-Knauss, Yaeji (Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jeong, Eunseok (Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Sim, Jin-ah (Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Jihye (Department of Biomedical Informatics, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Choo, Jiyeon (Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yun, Young Ho (Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2018.11.09
  • Accepted : 2019.09.04
  • Published : 2019.12.01
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Abstract

Purpose: Amendment to the Act on Decisions on Life-sustaining Treatment was recently enacted to designate long-term care hospitals as providers of hospice and palliative care. Despite its benefit of providing improved accessibility to end-of-life care, the amendment has raised concerns about its effect on quality of service. This study aimed to use information obtained from an expert group interview and previous studies to compare how cancer patients, family caregivers, physicians, and the general Korean population perceive the potential benefits and risks of this amendment. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study from July to October 2016. The included participants answered a structured questionnaire regarding the extent to which they agree or disagree with the questionnaire items indicating the potential benefits and risks of the amendment. Chi-square tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Compared with the general population, physicians agreed more that long-term care hospitals are currently not adequately equipped to provide quality hospice and palliative care. Family caregivers found improved access to long-term care hospitals more favorable but were more likely to agree that these hospitals might prioritize profits, thereby threatening the philosophy of hospice care, and that families might cease to fulfill filial responsibilities. Compared with the general population, cancer patients were more concerned about the potentially decreased service quality in this setting. Conclusion: Although potential service beneficiaries and providers expected improved accessibility of hospice and palliative care services, they were also concerned whether the system can provide adequate quality of end-of-life care.

목적: 호스피스 완화의료에의 접근성 향상을 위해 요양병원을 호스피스 전문기관으로 지정하는 개정안이 최근 시행되었다. 호스피스 전문기관의 양적 증대도 중요하지만, 이러한 개정에 따른 서비스의 질적 저하 역시 충분히 고려되어야 한다. 이러한 관점에서 본 연구는 1,001명의 암환자, 1,006명의 가족 간병인, 928명의 의사 및 1,005명의 일반인이 해당 개정안이 가진 이점과 비용에 대해 어떻게 인식하고 있는지 확인하였다. 방법: 2016년 7월부터 10월까지 다기관 단면조사를 시행하였다. 연구 참여자들은 전문가 인터뷰 및 선행연구에서 추출된 본 개정안의 이점과 비용에 대해 각각 얼마나 동의 혹은 동의하지 않는지 응답하였다. 분석에는 카이제곱 분석, 단변량 및 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석을 활용하였다. 결과: 참조집단인 일반인 집단과 비교했을 때, 의사 집단은 요양병원이 양질의 호스피스 완화의료 서비스를 제공하기 위한 시설 및 인력이 충분하지 않다는 점에 더 동의하였으나, 요양병원에서 과한 진료비를 청구할 것이라는 점에는 더 동의하지 않았다. 가족 간병인의 경우 일반인에 비해 요양병원에서 서비스를 제공한다면 접근성이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 더 동의했으나, 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음과 가족들이 환자 돌봄에 신경 쓰지 않을 것을 더 우려하였다. 일반인과 비교했을 때, 암환자 역시 마찬가지로 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음을 더 우려하였으며, 서비스의 질이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 대해서는 더 동의하지 않았다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 호스피스 완화의료의 잠재적인 서비스 이용자 및 제공자가 해당 개정의 이점뿐만 아니라 비용 역시 인식하고 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과 및 유럽 국가들의 사례를 통해 개정안이 실제로 현장에서 실행되기 전에 호스피스 전문기관으로서 요양병원이 새롭게 갖추어야 할 요건 및 방향성에 대해 제언하였다.

Keywords

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