影響主要照護家屬讓癌症末期病患接受安寧緩和醫療因素之分析

Analysis of the Factors Affecting Acceptance of Hospice Palliative Care for Terminal Cancer Patients by Major Caregivers

蔡佩渝(Pei-Yu Tsai) ； 賴鈺嘉(Yu-Jia Lai) ； 許正眉(Jeng-Mei Hsu)

《台灣家庭醫學雜誌》 17卷2期 (2007/06) Pp. 85-98

https://doi.org/10.7023/TJFM.200706.0085

摘要

Hospice palliative care has provided complete and specialized medical services for terminal cancer patients and their families. In the past, there have been a number of reports that have discussed the characteristics of the patients under hospice care, the willingness of patients and their caregivers to accept hospice care, the health status of the patients, and the caring environment within the hospice. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting the willingness of major family caregivers to refer their family member for hospice palliative care. The study population was the major family caregivers of terminal cancer patients who were referred for hospice palliative care in a medical center in Taiwan. This study evaluated various factors related to hospice care, including patient gender, religious beliefs, marital status, level of education, personal health status, and awareness of hospice palliative care. We analyzed the correlations between the above factors and the willingness to enter into hospice palliative care. We demonstrated that all the basic characteristics listed above, as well as an understanding of hospice palliative care, did not correlate with one's willingness to receive hospice palliative care. On the contrary, the awareness of future management or plans during critical periods of illness had a significant correlation with the willingness to receive hospice palliative care. We therefore conclude that the palliative medical team should communicate closely with patients and their families and provide information regarding hospice palliative care. An increased awareness of palliative care may increase the possibility of receiving hospice palliative care. Hospice palliative care can therefore provide a high-quality of care for patients near the end of their life.

並列摘要

Hospice palliative care has provided complete and specialized medical services for terminal cancer patients and their families. In the past, there have been a number of reports that have discussed the characteristics of the patients under hospice care, the willingness of patients and their caregivers to accept hospice care, the health status of the patients, and the caring environment within the hospice. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting the willingness of major family caregivers to refer their family member for hospice palliative care. The study population was the major family caregivers of terminal cancer patients who were referred for hospice palliative care in a medical center in Taiwan. This study evaluated various factors related to hospice care, including patient gender, religious beliefs, marital status, level of education, personal health status, and awareness of hospice palliative care. We analyzed the correlations between the above factors and the willingness to enter into hospice palliative care. We demonstrated that all the basic characteristics listed above, as well as an understanding of hospice palliative care, did not correlate with one's willingness to receive hospice palliative care. On the contrary, the awareness of future management or plans during critical periods of illness had a significant correlation with the willingness to receive hospice palliative care. We therefore conclude that the palliative medical team should communicate closely with patients and their families and provide information regarding hospice palliative care. An increased awareness of palliative care may increase the possibility of receiving hospice palliative care. Hospice palliative care can therefore provide a high-quality of care for patients near the end of their life.

並列關鍵字

caregiver ； willingness ； hospice palliative care

參考文獻

Kapo J,Harrold J(2005).Are we referring patients to hospice too late? Patients` and families` opinions.J Palliat Med.8,521-527.

Stajduhar KI,Davies B(2005).Variations in and factors influencing family members` decisions for palliative home care.Palliat Med.19,21-32.

Lackan NA,Ostir GV,Kuo YF,Freeman JL(2005).The association of marital status and hospice use in the USA.Palliat Med.19,160-162.

Lackan NA,Ostir GV,Freeman JL,Mahnken JD,Goodwin JS(2004).Decreasing variation in the use of hospice among older adults with breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.Med Care.42,116-122.

(2003).National Trend Summary for 2002.Washington DC:National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.