[Relatives' attitude towards death in hospital]

A survey was conducted over 13 months to measure the satisfaction level of relatives to patients, who had died in hospital.

The survey contained a questionnaire of 75 questions measuring satisfaction in different areas: the amount and quality of information given to the relatives by doctors, the support and care provided by the staff, and the quality of the physical environment.

Out of 619 questionnaires posted, 462 were returned (74.6% response rate). Only half the relatives were satisfied with the level of information given by doctors to themselves and the one dying. Twenty-four per cent of the respondents were dissatisfied by the length of time taken by doctors to inform them about the situation. A broad majority of respondents (85%) were very satisfied with the care and support provided by the nursing staff. Sixty-six per cent of the patients died in private wards. Fifty-five per cent of the relatives were satisfied with the quality of the patient's room, but only 37% were satisfied with the environment offered to them. One in five was especially dissatisfied by the lack of a special room, which would permit enabling private conversations in an undisturbed environment.

Our survey shows that doctors' communication with the relatives of dying patients needs to be improved. There also seems to be a need for providing a better environment for the relatives of dying patients by reserving separate rooms for rest and conversation.