Exploring terminally ill patients' and their families' perceptions of holistic care in Malaysia

To document the perception of terminally ill patients and their family members on the care provided to them, and to look at the components of holistic care that are viewed as inadequate.

Thirty cancer patients from a 10-bed palliative ward and their family members who were the chief carers were interviewed. They were asked to give their perceptions on four major areas of care: physical, social, psychological and spiritual. The participants were asked to report which area(s) of the service were inadequate.

Most patients and family members perceived that they received adequate physical care. However, the psychosocial and spiritual aspect of care were perceived as inadequate by the majority of patients and their families. None of the patients interviewed had ever been asked about spiritual distress.

The holistic model of care in caring for terminally ill patients is not practised fully. Further development in the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care is necessary. There is a need to conduct further research to address these domains.