TY - JOUR
T1 - Good death in Japanese cancer care
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Hirai, Kei
AU - Miyashita, Mitsunori
AU - Morita, Tatsuya
AU - Sanjo, Makiko
AU - Uchitomi, Yosuke
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Clinical Research for Evidenced-Based Medicine, from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. We would like to show our appreciation to Yoshifumi Honke, MD, Hiroyuki Kohara, MD, Itaru Narabayashi, MD, Yoshiyuki Kizawa, MD, Isamu Adachi, MD, Aki Ohashi, BA, Mariko Hotta, BA, Yukihiro Sakaguchi, PhD, Yuko Honya, MA, Kyoko Sasaoka, RN, Yoshiko Nozue, RN, and Sonoko Kurata, RN, for carrying out this study.
PY - 2006/2
Y1 - 2006/2
N2 - One of the most important goals of palliative care is achieving a "good death" or a "good dying process." The primary aim of this study was to identify the components of a Japanese "good death" through qualitative interviews with cancer patients, their families, physicians, and nurses. Semistructured interviews were conducted. Thirteen advanced cancer patients, 10 family members of such patients, 20 physicians, and 20 nurses were recruited from five regional cancer institutions in Japan. Content analysis was applied to answers, and 58 attributes were extracted and classified into 17 categories as follows: Freedom from pain or physical/psychological symptoms, Having a good family relationship, Dying in one's favorite place/environment, Having a good relationship with medical staff, Not being a burden to others, Maintaining dignity, Completion of life, Maintaining a sense of control, Fighting against cancer, Maintaining hope, Not prolonging life, Contributing to others, Control of future, Not being aware of death, Appreciating others, Maintaining pride, and Having faith. The most frequently cited category was "Freedom from pain or physical/psychological symptoms" and the least common was "Having faith." This study identified important components of a good death in Japan. A future quantitative survey is planned to clarify the generalizability of these findings as the primary endpoint of palliative care in Japan.
AB - One of the most important goals of palliative care is achieving a "good death" or a "good dying process." The primary aim of this study was to identify the components of a Japanese "good death" through qualitative interviews with cancer patients, their families, physicians, and nurses. Semistructured interviews were conducted. Thirteen advanced cancer patients, 10 family members of such patients, 20 physicians, and 20 nurses were recruited from five regional cancer institutions in Japan. Content analysis was applied to answers, and 58 attributes were extracted and classified into 17 categories as follows: Freedom from pain or physical/psychological symptoms, Having a good family relationship, Dying in one's favorite place/environment, Having a good relationship with medical staff, Not being a burden to others, Maintaining dignity, Completion of life, Maintaining a sense of control, Fighting against cancer, Maintaining hope, Not prolonging life, Contributing to others, Control of future, Not being aware of death, Appreciating others, Maintaining pride, and Having faith. The most frequently cited category was "Freedom from pain or physical/psychological symptoms" and the least common was "Having faith." This study identified important components of a good death in Japan. A future quantitative survey is planned to clarify the generalizability of these findings as the primary endpoint of palliative care in Japan.
KW - End-of-life care
KW - Good death
KW - Palliative care
KW - Quality of death and dying
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.06.012
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.06.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 16488347
AN - SCOPUS:32644451548
VL - 31
SP - 140
EP - 147
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
SN - 0885-3924
IS - 2
ER -
