말기 암환자 가족의 가정 호스피스 인식 및 요구도

The Awareness and Need for Home Hospice Care in Families of Terminal Cancer Patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the awareness and need for home hospice care in families of terminal cancer patients. Methods: The study conducted with 102 families of terminal cancer patients using hospice service at one hospital in Gwangju city from September 1 to December 30, 2009. The data were collected through self reporting questionnaire of 26 items about awareness and need for home hospice care. The data collected were analyzed by descriptive statistics, χ2-test and Fisher s exact test. Results: Most families of terminal cancer patients (86.1%) have an awareness about need for home hospice care. The reason for ‘familiar environment/emotional stability showed the biggest reason (40.2%), easy to treatment/care (33.3%), respectively. With respect to the characteristics of the subjects, the need for home hospice care is significantly different by their age (p=.008), religious affiliation (p=.010), educational level (p<.001), respectively. Families of terminal cancer patients expressed the need of economical support on home hospice from ‘government grants (67.6%), ‘health insurance (24.5%), respectively. Expected effects of home hospice were ‘to help terminal patients live life comfortably and meaningfully (65.7%), ‘to decrease fear of death (13.7%), respectively. Preferred members of home hospice team are ‘nurse (45.7%), ‘medical specialist (26.8%), respectively. Conclusion : Families of terminal cancer patients have greater awareness of need for home hospice in aspect of environment and emotion, and have various needs in regard to quality of life, economical support and type of services. Therefore, national supports for home hospice care as well as public relations aimed at terminal cancer patients and their families are needed.