• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.226-234
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• 2017

Purpose: With the implementation of the Act on Life Sustaining Treatment, hospice-palliative care will be extended to non-cancer diseases including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, there are concerns about negative perceptions and prejudice toward AIDS patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related with willingness to volunteer (WV) for patients with end-stage AIDS among hospice volunteers. Methods: Participants were 326 hospice volunteers from 19 institutions. A self-administered questionnaire was employed to investigate the participants' WV for end-stage AIDS patients, and the questions were answered using an 11-point rating scale. Demographics, volunteer activity, satisfaction with hospice volunteering, knowledge of AIDS, and attitudes towards AIDS patients (i.e., fear AIDS patients, negative attitude towards AIDS patients, personal stigmatization and stigmatizing attitude) were also investigated. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with WV for patients with end-stage AIDS. Results: WV for patients with end-stage AIDS was 2.82 points lower than that for cancer patients (P<0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed that the higher the level of satisfaction with hospice volunteering (P=0.002) and the lower the level of "personal stigmatization" (P<0.001), participants showed greater WV for end-stage AIDS patients. Conclusion: The level of satisfaction with hospice volunteering and "personal stigmatization" were factors associated with participants' WV for patients with end-stage AIDS.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2018

Spirituality is an essential part of human beings. Spiritual care, designed to meet the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families, is one of the most important aspects of hospice and palliative care (HPC). This study reviewed and analyzed literature utilizing the most commonly used Korean and international healthcare databases to identify care models that adequately address the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families in practice. The results of this study show that spirituality is an intrinsic part of humans, meaning that people are holistic beings. The literature has provided ten evidence-based theories that can be used as models in HPC. Three of the models focus on how the spiritual care outcomes of viewing spiritual health, quality of life, and coping, are important outcomes. The remaining seven models focus on implementation of spiritual care. The "whole-person care model" addresses the multidisciplinary collaboration within HPC. The "existential functioning model" emphasizes the existential needs of human beings. The "open pluralism view" considers the cultural diversity and other types of diversity of care recipients. The "spiritual-relational view" and "framework of systemic organization" models focus on the relationship between hospital palliative care teams and terminally ill patients. The "principal components model" and "actioning spirituality and spiritual care in education and training model" explain the overall dynamics of the spiritual care process. Based on these models, continuous clinical research efforts are needed to establish an optimal spiritual care model for HPC.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2017

Purpose: There has been very little study on the associations between patient's symptoms themselves and family caregiver (FC)'s depression in the palliative phase. This cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between symptom features of terminally ill cancer patients and their FC's depression. Methods: We performed a multicenter survey using the MD Anderson symptom inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A total of 293 patient-FC pairs were recruited from seven tertiary medical centers. A multivariate regression analysis was applied for identifying the relevant factors associated with FC depression and for estimating adjusted depression score of FCs. Results: Among various psychosocial factors, low FC quality of life, low social support, spouse, and more caregiving time were significantly associated with FCs' depression. According to the presence of FCs' depression, there were significant differences in some symptom characteristics of patients. Even after adjusting for the relevant confounders, depression scores were lower in FCs caring for patients who had negative symptoms (loss of appetite, P=0.005; drowsiness, P=0.024; and dry mouth, P=0.043) than in FCs caring for patients who had not. FCs caring for patients with severe appetite loss had lower depression scores than those with not severe one (P=0.039). Conclusion: Our result suggests that patient's symptom characteristics might be helpful when evaluating a FC's depression.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate patients' characteristics and actual conditions of home-based services offered by a free-standing hospice center. Methods: A retrospective review was performed with the medical records of 75 patients who received home-based hospice care from a free-standing hospice center from January 2014 through December 2014. Results: Most patients (54.7%) were enrolled via self-directed referral. The reason for the service termination was death at home 25.3%, admission to a hospice ward 50.7%, hospitalization 22.6% and patients' refusal 2.7%. Seventy three patients had cancer, and two patients had ALS. Among all, 58.7% were in a dying phase, and 34.7% were almost completely bedfast at the time of their enrollment in this study. When they enrolled, the patients' physical symptoms were characterized as pain (89.4%), sleep disturbance (71.2%), urinary difficulties (35.8%) and defecation difficulties (47.8%). Among all, 77.4% terminated the home visit service within one month. The mean frequency of the home visits was 3.25 (${\pm}3.98$), and less than five in 82.7% of patients. The mean frequency of the phone service was 3.40 (${\pm}3.12$). The frequency of doctor's home visits was $1.21{\pm}0.79$ on average, and the figure increased when patients' conditions turned unstable. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a home-based hospice care model with consideration of patients' characteristics and the actual service conditions delivered by free-standing hospice facilities.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.60-73
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• 2000

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to describe a total pain model in patients with terminal cancer and to identify factors relating to total pain using the Twycross Pain Management Model, which included physical, psycho-social and spiritual pain. Method : The study was a retrospective descriptive study. The first stage included 87 patients who received hospice service at Y hospital in 1997. The second stage included five model patients who suffer severe pain as selected by the four hospice nurses. Data collection was from 1) chart analysis and 2) in-depth interviews with the hospice nurses about their selected patients. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-WIN and content analysis. Result : 1) The main problems of 3 patient with terminal cancer were pain(77%), constipation (25.3%), family coping(35.6%), psycho-spiritual distress(17.2%)and other symptoms. 2. The Twycross model was a useful model. However, new items were added; loneliness, depression, and no improvement in condition as depression factors. In anger, new items were anger due to family neglect, at God and in relationships. The case studies identified the followsing; 1) Patient suffer from physical pain as well as multiple other symptoms when cancer is advanced. 2) Body concept, role change, threat to self concept, fear of pain, fear of death, anxiety, family conflict, financial burden, spiritual distress, hope for a cure, are all affected. Conclusion : 1) It is believed that the Twycross model is useful but further tests and revisions are necessary for deciding priorities in the care plan. 2) Pain management must improve culturally appropriate and family support, psychological, spiritual care are imperative for patient with terminal cancer. 3) Further study is recommended to test correlations of depression, anxiety, spiritual distress and family coping using valid instruments. A qualitative study on the spiritual journey of the patient with terminal cancer is also recommended.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate how much understand about artificial hydration in patients with terminal cancer, according to the subject groups, including patients, families, and general public. Methods: Data were collected from June 2007 to December 2007 and the participants included 22 hospitalized patients in the hospice unit of S Hospital, 100 families, and 101 participants who participated in a hospice education program for the general public. The questionnaire was developed through literature review, interview with patients' families, and expertise consultation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with an SAS program. Results: Understanding of artificial hydration among patients, families and general public was examined from three perspectives. From an ethical perspective, 'if you receive artificial hydration, you can live longer', 45.5%, 63%, and 52.4% of the above three groups, respectively, answered "yes". From an emotional perspective, 'artificial hydration must be provided', 81.8%, 70% and 58.4%, respectively, agreed. From a cultural perspective, 'if artificial hydration is not provided for the patient, the families will feel painful', 95.5%, 83%, and 88.2%, respectively, answered "yes". Conclusion: This study found the differences in understanding of artificial hydration among patients, families and general public, and also found that less than 50 percent of the participants understood artificial hydration appropriately. We suggest, therefore, that patients' understanding about artificial hydration should be determined in the clinical setting and then followed by individualized education according to given medical situations.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Purpose: Terminal cancer influences on patients as well as their family members. This research was performed to evaluate the quality of lift of primary family caregivers and to investigate the influencing factors. Methods: The results of survey were collected from 81 family caregivers who were taking care of hospitalized terminal cancer patients at an oncology department of university hospital in Daejeon from March 2005 to January 2006 with questionnaires. The questionnaires were consisted of the general characteristics of the subjects, and 36-items short-form Health Survey (SE-36) Korean version to evaluate the quality of life of family caregivers, the characteristics of patients and family caregivers' caring trait. Results: Family caregivers' mean (${\pm}SD$) SF-36 score was 47.9 (${\pm}20.7$). Influential factors on family caregivers' life quality were daily raring hours, economic burden, type of treatment; only supportive care, caring duration, sex, the numbers of ADLs (activity of daily livings) items that patients needed help in order by stepwised multiple logistic regression analysis (overall $R^2=0.639$, P=0.044). Conclusion: Daily raring hours and economic burden were two influential modifiable factors on family caregivers' quality of life. Therefore, social supportive systems are required to reduce family caregivers' daily caring hour and economic burden.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.211-221
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• 2016

Purpose: Dignity therapy is a very effective intervention to improve the dignity of end-stage patients. A concept analysis by Walker and Avant (2005) was adopted to define, describe, and delimitate the concept of dignity therapy. Methods: Nursing literature in the National Digital Science Links (NDSL) and Medline database were searched for the definitions of "dignity" and "dignity therapy". Definitions, uses, and defining attributes of dignity therapy were identified; model and contrary cases were developed; and antecedents, consequences, and empirical references were determined. Results: Through dignity therapy patients and their families share their stories, and that in turn improves the quality of life and death. Five attributes were identified: higher quality of life and death, therapeutic conversation, respect of human dignity and worth, expressing thoughts about life and death and systematic process. Conclusion: Patients at the end of their lives feel more comfortable about death. Hospice care providers should try to protect dignity of patients in their care. The attributes of the dignity therapy clarified in this study should be applied for terminally ill patients to improve their quality of life and death.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.178-183
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• 2007

Purpose: The prevalence and mortality of gastric lancer is high. We studied clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of the advanced gastric canter patients who had died in the hospice care unit. and our study is the basic report for efficient hospice and palliative care for the terminally ill patients with gastric cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 99 advanced gastric cancer patients who had died in a hospice rare unit from May 2004 to August 2007. The survival days during the hospice and palliative care were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method of SPSS version 13.0. Results: There were 62 males (63%) and 37 females (37%). Median age of patients was 60.9 years and liver metastasis was as high as 38 patients (38%) of all. The most prevalent symptom of admission was general weakness (97%) and poor or intake (86%). There were also bypoalbuminemia (88%), anemia (73%), and hyponatremia (61%). Palliative procedure was performed on 17 (63%) out of 27 patients with intestinal obstruction. Of these stents were inserted to 11 patients. The stores of ECOGPS and dyspnea were significantly correlated with the length of survival. The duration of median survival and hospitalization in the hospice and palliative care was 22 days and was 20 days respectively. Conclusion: We need to study more about clinical characteristics of advanced gastric rancor patients to predict the length of survival for an effective hospice and palliative care.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2002

Purpose : The system to refer terminally ill patients to palliative or hospice care which ultimately give them emotional, psychological, and social support hasn't been fully developed and organized yet in Korea. The controversies concerning the current referral system are being analyzed to present the improvements. Methods : The questionnaires were asked to be filled out by family members of the 76 patients by phone interview, who were referred from the Seoul National University Hospital between April, 2001 to March, 2002. They were referred to the 35 palliative and hospice care-giving institutes and hospitals which were given questionnaires by mail. Results : Of the 76 patient's family members, 47 family members accepted to answer the questionnaire. The first thing that influence to family to determine the referral of patient was solicitation of doctors or nurses (44%). And they were influenced by allowance for the other things such as convenience of patients (32%), convenience of caring family members (24%). In the course of determining of referred institutes, responders had considered at first their dwelling area, and then fame of institutes, the place which patent had wanted to spend last hours or which is suitable for patient's funeral service, and their financial condition. Thirty-eight the 47 responders answered that they had experienced difficulties in referral procedure. The worst among difficulties was unwanted discharge, and followings were lack of information about the referred institutes, concern about patient's suffering, resistance of patient and opposition of other family members, etc. Although they expressed dissatisfaction in referral procedure, most of them answered they had been satisfied with hospice care at referred institute after referral. Merits of referral which responders counted were patient's peace, caring family's comfort and reduced cost in order. Of the 35 referred institutes, 24 institutes' staffs responded mail questionnaires and sent to us in return. Except one responder, the rest approved the referral system and thought that referred patients had been satisfied with their hospice care. And they claimed that systemic support of the government is definitely necessary. The most difficult thing which responders experienced in care of referred patients was lack of information about patients. Besides, there were patient's financial problems, lack of understanding about their institutes of patients or family, and inconvenience of terminal cancer patient's pain control. Conclusion : The development and support of the organized referral system is needed to alleviate the troubles which patients, family members, and palliative or hospice institutes and hospitals have to face through the procedure of the referral.