Surveys to assess satisfaction with end-of-life care: does timing matter?

The goals of this study were to determine whether post-death surveys of family members cause more distress if they are administered closer in time to the patient's death, and whether family members are less likely to respond to earlier surveys. Caregivers of hospice patients were randomly assigned to receive a survey at 2 weeks (n = 107) or at 6 weeks (n = 100) after the patient's death. Response rates and self-reported distress experienced in completing the survey were recorded. There were no differences in self-ratings of distress between 2- and 6-week surveys, and response rates were identical (2-week: 54%; 6-week: 54%). Distress and response rate do not appear to be influenced by the timing of data collection, even when surveys are administered very soon after death.