Good end-of-life care according to patients and their GPs

Most patients prefer to die at home, where a GP provides end-of-life care. A few previous studies have been directed at the GPs' values on good end-of-life care, yet no study combined values of patients and their own GP.

To explore the aspects valued by both patients and GPs in end-of-life care at home, and to reflect upon the results in the context of future developments in primary care.

Interviews with patients and their own GP.

Primary care in the Netherlands.

Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 20 GPs and 30 of their patients with a life expectancy of less than 6 months, and cancer, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as underlying disease.

Patients and GPs had comparable perceptions of good end-of-life care. Patients and GPs identified four core items that they valued in end-of-life care: availability of the GP for home visits and after office-hours, medical competence and cooperation with other professionals, attention and continuity of care.

Future developments in the organisation of primary care such as the restriction of time for home visits, more part-time jobs and GP cooperatives responsible for care after office hours, may threaten valued aspects in end-of-life care.