The level of the information and understanding state of patients and family members before and after palliative care unit admission: evaluation of the nurses

ABSTRACT

<b>Purpose and Method</b> It is known that people have insufficient recognition about hospital-based palliative care units (PCUs). Patients with cancer and their families are probably not well informed about PCUs on its admission. To understand the situation of patients and their families before and after PCU admission, a questionnaire survey was performed and evaluated by PCU nurses. <b>Result</b> As a result, two points regarding PCU admission have become clear. First, about 55％ of the nurses reported that prior to PCU admission, patients and family members lacked proper information about PCUs; about 62% of the nurses felt that PCUs had not been appropriately explained to the patients; and about 37% of the nurses felt that family members had not received an appropriate explanation of PCUs at the time of PCU admission. Second, before PCU admission, the main concern of patients and their families was proper utilization of PCUs. After admission, their main concerns were the extent of treatment provided in the PCU and the progress of the disease. <b>Conclution</b> These results suggest that appropriate information on PCUs, including the scope of treatment provided to patients and the requirements for PCU admission, is necessary for general ward staff as well as for the patients and their families prior to PCU admission.