Pioneering research shows that terminally ill want to die at home
Terminally ill patients want to be cared for and die in their own home, according to Edge Hill's latest leading research.As it approaches Dying Matters Week (15th to 20th March), the University's Evidence-based Practice Research Centre has unveiled the findings of a study it carried out to evaluate a pilot home care initiative run by Queenscourt Hospice.
The study found that 73% were cared for and able to die in their own home, whilst only a small number either died in a hospice/care home or were admitted to hospital at the end of their lives.
There was also overwhelming agreement from respondents that the service was having a very positive impact on patients, carers and health care professionals.
The Southport-based hospice had launched its own unique service that provides hospice care in the home setting, thus helping to allow patients who have chosen to die at home to do so.
The aim of the University's study was to explore health care professionals' views and experiences and to see if the unique pilot scheme was meeting its intentions of giving terminally ill patients more choice by filling in the gap in the care available to people at home.
During the year-long pilot study, data was collected from a variety of sources, including referrals and informal feedback from families and carers, focus groups, interviews and surveys with health care professionals.
Professor Barbara Jack, Director of the Evidence-based Practice Research Centre in the Faculty of Health, who lead this pioneering research project, said: "Within the UK there is a growing emphasis on increasing the options for service users particularly with a move from institutional care for patients with chronic and life limiting illnesses.
To increase the options available to patients the Queenscourt at Home service was initiated. Our research was to determine whether it had actually set out what it aimed to do. The findings from our study indicate that the Queenscourt at Home service is having an important impact on patients, carers and health care professionals. The bespoke flexible service appears to be helping to have a major impact on allowing patients to die in their place of choice."
"Also, Dying Matters Week aims to encourage people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives and I think our research comes at a really poignant time because the service the Queenscourt Hospice offers is making a huge difference to patients who are dying."
A further study exploring the impact of this service on carers will also be undertaken now that the initial evaluation has been completed.
A full copy of the report is available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/eprc/reports.
http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/news/2010/03/pioneering-research-shows-that-terminally-ill-want-to-die-at-home
