Preferences for End-of-Life Care and Death Among Bereaved Family Members
Author Information
Author(s): O'Sullivan Anna, Larsdotter Cecilia, Sawatzky Richard, Alvariza Anette, Imberg Henrik, Cohen Joachim, Öhlén Joakim
Primary Institution: Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
Hypothesis
What are the preferred places for end-of-life care and death among bereaved family members who have recently lost a loved one with advanced illness?
Conclusion
Most bereaved family members preferred home for end-of-life care and death, influenced by their previous experiences.
Supporting Evidence
- 52% of bereaved family members preferred home for end-of-life care.
- 43% preferred home for place of death.
- Partners were more likely to prefer hospital for care and nursing home for death.
Takeaway
When people lose someone they love, they often want to be cared for and die at home, especially if they had a close relationship with the person who died.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey using descriptive statistics and multinominal logistic regression analyses.
Potential Biases
The sample was predominantly female and native Swedish, which may not reflect the broader population's preferences.
Limitations
The study only included bereaved family members of individuals who died in hospitals, which may not represent preferences of those who died at home.
Participant Demographics
70.7% were women, 36.1% were ≥70 years old, 51.8% were children of the deceased.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.66 to 9.96
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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