Logo image
Back
Exploring why some terminally ill people die in hospital when home was their preferred choice
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Exploring why some terminally ill people die in hospital when home was their preferred choice

N. Champion, K. Medigovich and P. Morrison
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.33(2), pp.6-12
2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37464/2016.332.1545
url
Free to Read *No subscription requiredView

Abstract

Objective This small study was designed to gain a better understanding of issues that led to hospital admission of palliative care clients who had a preference for home death, but died in hospital. Design A mixed method approach was chosen for the study using descriptive analysis of routinely collected client demographic and clinical data, and conventional content analysis of case note entries. Setting The study was undertaken in two community based palliative care services located in rural South Australia. Subjects.The case notes of fourteen deceased adults registered with the Northern Yorke Peninsula and Port Pirie Palliative Care Services, with a recorded preferred site of death (PSD) of home and who died in hospital were studied. Main outcome measure Understanding of issues that may have led to hospital admission of palliative care clients who had a preference for home death but who died in hospital. Results The findings reported here focus only on the qualitative aspect of the study. Issues that may lead to hospital. admission include unstable symptoms, deteriorating condition, client/caregiver decision making, lack of services over twenty four hours and the caregiver’s ability to manage client care. Conclusion Services can now consider these findings and develop local strategies to improve support for clients with apreference to die at home, and in particular, those that focus on improving caregiver training and information.

Details

Metrics

81 Record Views
Logo image