End of life

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Thanatology
• Palliative Care Research

Background:

• The fear of death is amplified by the belief that it signifies finality.
• Religions often address this fear by positing continued existence of the human spirit.
• Understanding end-of-life care preferences is crucial for patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the circumstances of death for a cohort of patients.
• To examine patient preferences regarding end-of-life care settings and companionship.
• To assess the availability and adequacy of palliative care services in the Presov region.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of death records for 142 patients.
• Data collection on place of death (home, hospital) and presence of relatives.
• Evaluation of end-of-life care needs versus service provision in a specific region.

Main Results:

• 32% of patients died at home, 52% in hospital.
• 24% died with family present, 39% without.
• A majority of dying patients expressed a desire for family presence at the end of life.

Conclusions:

• The wish for family presence at the end of life is a significant patient preference.
• Palliative care serves as a vital alternative when family presence is not possible.
• There is a documented deficit in hospice and palliative care services for terminally ill patients in the Presov region.