Family experience and evaluation about caring the body of deceased patient in Japanese inpatient hospices: a content analysis of free comments in questionnaire survey

Objectives: Primary aim of this study was to clarify the experience and evaluation of families who about caring the body of the deceased patient by nurses at Japanese inpatient hospices and palliative care unit. Method: A mail survey was performed on 958 bereaved family members of 103 palliative care units. A total of 598 family members replied. This study was content analysis about free comments in the questionnaire. Result: A total of 301 comments from 162 questionnaires were identified as the subjects for content analysis. The family was experience satisfaction or dissatisfaction about the way caring the body of the deceased patient. The family felt hesitation and worries about caring the body of deceased patient. A content analysis revealed 3 underlying themes: the family evaluate as a good experience, the family evaluate as an unpleasant experience, the family evaluate as an experience of hesitation and worries. Conclusion: The family was satisfied about treating the patient in the same way before died, making patient face beautiful and calm, facilitates family’s preparation. When nurses recommend families to care the body of deceased patient, which become memorably experience, and they come to be get over sorrow after the bereavement. But they need to confirm the family’s preparation and choose what they can do.

Family evaluation about caring the body of deceased patient by nurses in Japanese inpatient hospices

<b>Objectives:</b> Primary aim of this study was to clarify the family evaluation about caring the body of the deceased patient by nurses at Japanese inpatient hospices and palliative care unit. <b>Method:</b> A mail survey was performed on 958 bereaved family members of 103 palliative care units in July, 2010.<b> Result:</b> A total of 597 family members replied（62％）. As a whole, 441（74％）families reported that they were satisfied with the way caring the body of the deceased patient by nurses. A multivariate analysis revealed three factors were significantly associated with the levels of satisfaction:the patient face became peaceful and calm, and nurses treated the patient in the same way before died, and patient age was over 70 years old. <b>Conclusion:</b> Making patient face peaceful and calm, and treating the patient in the same way before died is important in caring the body of the deceased.