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Summary
Patients dying at home experienced less physical distress and were more alert before death compared to hospital deaths. This study highlights differences in end-of-life care experiences based on location.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Gerontology
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Assessing patient distress at the end of life is crucial for improving care quality.
- Previous research indicates variations in end-of-life experiences, but specific factors related to location require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a simple method for recording the distress of dying patients.
- To compare the distress experienced by patients dying at home versus in a hospital setting.
Main Methods:
- A simple recording method was employed to document patient distress.
- Three key factors were analyzed to identify significant differences between home and hospital deaths.
Main Results:
- Patients dying at home were more likely to be fully alert shortly before death (P < 0.05).
- Home deaths were associated with a lower incidence of vomiting, incontinence, or bedsores (P < 0.001).
- Patients dying at home were less likely to experience unrelieved physical distress (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in patient distress exist between home and hospital deaths, with home deaths appearing less burdensome.
- No significant differences in distress were noted between general practitioner and other hospital settings, though further research with larger sample sizes is recommended.