Correlates of Family Satisfaction with Hospice Care: General Inpatient Hospice Care versus Routine Home Hospice Care

The quality of communication and support provided to families is associated with greater satisfaction with hospice care. Prior work has not explored whether the predictors of family satisfaction are different in different hospice care settings.

The study objective was to explore whether correlates of family satisfaction are different in general inpatient hospice care versus routine home hospice care.

Survey data from bereaved family members of approximately 1600 patients from a nonprofit, midsized hospice in western Pennsylvania were used. Data was obtained from Family Evaluation of Hospice Care (FEHC) survey responses from 2008-2013 and separated into two groups, general inpatient hospice care and routine home hospice care. The analysis was completed using a binomial logistic regression model.

Three variables were associated with greater overall satisfaction in both care settings: being kept informed about the patient's condition (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 9.64, CI: 6.56-14.36); being provided with clear/consistent information (AOR: 2.34, CI: 1.47-3.72); and the perception that patients were provided with adequate treatment for anxiety (AOR: 2.64, CI: 1.19-5.81). Two variables, sufficient discussion with hospice team members concerning family members' religious or spiritual beliefs (AOR: 1.64, CI: 1.17-2.30) and being provided with the correct amount of emotional support after the patient's death (AOR: 2.01, CI: 1.10-3.66), were correlated with greater satisfaction in routine home hospice care only.

Good communication is strongly associated with greater family satisfaction across hospice care settings. Hospices must ensure that they provide patients and families with consistent information and support.