• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence healthcare providers' attitude towards end-of-life care (EOLC) in the emergency department (ED) in hospital settings. Methods: From June 1 through June 30, 2014, a descriptive correlational study was performed with 41 doctors and 105 nurses stationed in the ED. Results: According to a regression model on the factors affecting healthcare providers' professional attitude towards EOLC, 28.1% of variance (F=15.185, P=0.000) was explained by awareness of death, gender and personal attitude towards EOLC. And 34.1% of the healthcare providers' personal attitude was related with awareness of death, experience of hospice education, occupations and professional attitude towards EOLC. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that attitude towards EOLC was influenced by awareness of death and personal characteristics. Healthcare providers in the ED should be provided with tailored training to improve their understanding of death. Also an educational program should be developed and provided to ED healthcare providers to improve their awareness of death.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.216-227
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed at understanding terminal care provided in nursing homes. Method: An interview survey with staff in charge of terminal care was conducted in 97 nursing homes using questionnaires. The questionnaire was reviewed by 3 experts and pretested at 5 facilities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Result: Dyspnea was the most prevalent symptom predicting death. The most prevalent services were vital sign check for physical care, providing services by talking despite an unconscious state for psychosocial care, and respecting the faith of the elder for spiritual care. Employment of a registered nurse showed a significant difference in tube feeding (p=.035), analgesic administration (p=.022), informing the elder of end-of-life state (p=.020), helping an elderly person say good-byes through a visit with friends and acquaintances (p=.023), and helping express feelings related to death (p=.002). Lack of service was noticed for elderly resident, family, and staff after death of an elder. Problems related to terminal care were indifference of family members, difficulty in obtaining medical prescription, difficulty in predicting death, and so forth. Conclusion: Terminal care must be improved by making specific guidelines and it must become a part of nursing home evaluation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.391-396
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• 2014

This study was conducted to be helpful to the expansion and development of hospice and to provide the basic data for Hospice palliative care by identifying the general characteristics of curriculum of hospice perception, level of perception, practice experiences, routes, times, meanings, needs, targets, supply, types, organizations, experiences, use of hospice and physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of hospice services. Study tools which were used in this study were composed of three sections. Survey paper is 3-point Likert scale which is composed of 6 questions of general characteristics, nominal scale of 24 questions about hospice perception and hospice service contents. Respondents can reply with 3 answers of Necessary (1), Mediocre (2), and Not necessary (3), in physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects. Score ranges of this tool are from minimum of 24 points to maximum of 72 points and higher scores mean higher perception of Hospice. Hospice is a behavior to take care of terminal patients who are waiting for death and their family and it should be conducted physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually in order that the patients could meet their last moments of life by maintaining a high quality of life, human dignity and peace for the rest of their lives. Hospice could be mentioned to be a comprehensive care to relieve the pains and grieves of bereaved family.