End-of-Life Care Preferences of Terminally Ill Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Providing excellent care for a dying patient is something all patients deserve. The Institute of Medicine Committee defined good death as one that is in accord with the patient's and family's wishes. End-of-Life (EOL) care preferences of terminally ill patients vary with culture, which is reported by various researchers around the globe. The aim of the study was to explore the EOL care preferences among terminally ill patients from a selected setting in Tamil Nadu, India.

A descriptive design was adopted. 120 terminally ill patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire on EOL care preferences in a selected hospice.

EOL is a naive concept in India; interestingly, 16.6% had communicated their EOL wishes to family members. Terminally ill patients valued a sense of dignity more than controlling pain through medications if it muddled them. Nearly 72.5% of patients did not prefer life-prolonging treatment if they did not have a hope of recovery. Nearly 40.83% and 77.5% of patients preferred home for EOL care and death, respectively. Nearly 73.33% of patients preferred that their spiritual beliefs be considered for EOL care. Majority preferred to fill out a living will or an advanced directive. 40.83% agreed that euthanasia to be legally available.

EOL care preferences vary in different cultures and crafting EOL care pathways tailored to cultural preferences will enhance the quality of EOL care. Persistent investment in EOL research promises to pave the way for superior EOL care standards in India.