Requests for cancer treatment and palliative care: suggestions from 821 advanced cancer patients and bereaved families

ABSTRACT

It is important to collect patients' and their families' opinions to provide good palliative care. This study aims to analyze the contents of free description provided by the survey for cancer patients and bereaved families, which was performed before the intervention of The Outreach Palliative Care Trial of Integrated Regional Model (OPTIM) study. Requests for and good points of cancer treatment and palliative care were collected and classified. 1,493 advanced cancer patients and 1,658 bereaved families in four areas received the questionnaire, and 271 patients and 550 families filled in the free description. Cancer patients and bereaved families had demands for improved communication with medical staff, improved quality of pain relief, financial support of treatment, more educational activities on palliative care, and improved cooperation within and outside hospitals. Palliat Care Res 2011; 6(2) 237-245