Study on Nursing Needs for Hospice Patients and their Families

호스피스 환자와 가족의 간호요구 조사

The purpose of this study was to identify nursing needs for hospice patients and their families in order to establish a foundation for appropriate Korean hospice care. To achieve the purpose of this study, 1 interviewed 50 patients who were going to die within 3 or 6 months and 42 family members of these patients who were registered in Pusan National University Hospital Hospice Program. The interview was done in the patient's room using semi-dialog style questionnaire. Data collection was done from March 1, 1999 to September 30. 1999. The important results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Nursing needs that patients and their families have experienced were classified into six nursing domains; physical, emotional, economic, educational, spiritual and postmortal care. 2. Nursing needs of hospice patients are; pain control(80%), physical comfort(72%), consideration from medical personnel(68%), provision of information(64%), best treatment(60%), help of volunteers(36%), and continuous hospital treatment(32%). 3. Nursing needs of the families are; pain-control in Patients(97.6%), best treatment(97.6%), physical comfort of patients(95.2%), continuous hospital treatment(92.8%), provision of information(80.9%), consideration from medical personnel(76.1%), expectation of recovery(66.6%), emotional support of family(61.9%), and physical comfort of family(40.4%). It is concluded that there is a real difference between the nursing needs of patients and the nursing needs of their families. Therefore we must examine and intervene for the demands of patients and their families using a holistic approach in order to meet their hospice needs.