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

ABSTRACT

<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 satisfactionthe 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.