Quality of Dying | ScienceGate

Abstract Background Assessing the quality of structure and process of end-of-life care can help improve outcomes. There was currently no valid tool for this purpose in Mainland China. The aim of this study is to validate the Chinese version of the Care Evaluation Scale (CES). Methods From January to December 2017, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted among bereaved family members of cancer patients from 10 medical institutes. The reliability of the CES was assessed with Cronbach’s α, and structural validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was tested by examining the correlation between the CES total score and overall satisfaction with end-of-life care, quality of dying and death, and quality of life. Results A total of 305 valid responses were analyzed. The average CES score was 70.7 ± 16.4, and the Cronbach’s α of the CES was 0.967 (range: 0.802–0.927 for the 10 domains). The fit indices for the 10-factor model of CES were good(root-mean-square error of approximation, 0.047; comparative fit index, 0.952; Tucker–Lewis index, 0.946; standardized root mean square residual, 0.053). The CES total score was highly correlated with overall satisfaction with medical care (r = 0.775, P < 0.01), and moderately correlated with patients’ quality of life (r = 0.579, P < 0.01) and quality of dying and death (r = 0.570, P < 0.01). In addition, few associations between CES total score and demographic characteristics, except for the family members’ age. Conclusions The Chinese version of the CES is a reliable and valid tool to evaluate the quality of structure and process of end-of-life care for patients with cancer from the perspective of bereaved family in Mainland China.

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Psychometric Testing of the Spanish Modified Version of the Mini-Suffering State Examination

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157821 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7821

Author(s):

Daniel Gutiérrez-Sánchez ◽

Rafael Gómez-García ◽

Isabel María López-Medina ◽

Antonio I. Cuesta-Vargas

Keyword(s):

Internal Consistency ◽

Content Validity ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Informal Caregivers ◽

Psychometric Testing ◽

Spanish Version ◽

Measurement Properties ◽

Quality Of Dying ◽

State Examination

Background: The mini-suffering state examination is a valid and reliable measure that have been used to assess suffering in patients with advanced cancer. The aim of this study was to carry out a psychometric analysis of the Spanish version of the mini-suffering state examination. Method: A validation study was conducted. Seventy-two informal caregivers of deceased patients in palliative care were included in this study. A psychometric testing of content validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity with the Spanish version of the quality of dying and death questionnaire was performed. Results: The original instrument was modified to be used by informal caregivers. The content validity was acceptable (0.96), and the internal consistency was moderate (α = 0.67). Convergent validity was demonstrated (r = −0.64). Conclusion: The Spanish modified version of the MSSE showed satisfactory measurement properties. The Spanish modified version of MSSE can be useful to facilitate screening, monitor progress, and guide treatment decisions in end-of-life cancer patients.

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To hydrate or not to hydrate? The effect of hydration on survival, symptoms and quality of dying among terminally ill cancer patients

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-021-00710-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chien-Yi Wu ◽

Ping-Jen Chen ◽

Tzu-Lin Ho ◽

Wen-Yuan Lin ◽

Shao-Yi Cheng

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Terminally Ill ◽

Good Death ◽

Artificial Nutrition ◽

Symptom Improvement ◽

Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽

Quality Of Dying

Abstract Background Artificial nutrition and hydration do not prolong survival or improve clinical symptoms of terminally ill cancer patients. Nonetheless, little is known about the effect of artificial hydration (AH) alone on patients’ survival, symptoms or quality of dying. This study explored the relationship between AH and survival, symptoms and quality of dying among terminally ill cancer patients. Methods A pilot prospective, observational study was conducted in the palliative care units of three tertiary hospitals in Taiwan between October 2016 and December 2017. A total of 100 patients were included and classified into the hydration and non-hydration group using 400 mL of fluid per day as the cut-off point. The quality of dying was measured by the Good Death Scale (GDS). Multivariate analyses using Cox’s proportional hazards model were used to assess the survival status of patients, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for within-group analyses and the Mann-Whitney U test for between-groups analyses to evaluate changes in symptoms between day 0 and 7 in both groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of a good death. Results There were no differences in survival (p = 0.337) or symptom improvement between the hydration and non-hydration group, however, patients with AH had higher GDS scores. Conclusions AH did not prolong survival nor significantly improve dehydration symptoms of terminally ill cancer patients but it may influence the quality of dying. Communication with patients and their families on the effect of AH may help them better prepared for the end-of-life experience.

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Quality of dying and death in the ICU. The euroQ2 project

Journal of Critical Care ◽

10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.12.015 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 376-382 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rik T. Gerritsen ◽

Hanne Irene Jensen ◽

Matty Koopmans ◽

J. Randall Curtis ◽

Lois Downey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Dying

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Validation of the Taiwanese Version of the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3810047 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yen-Hwa Chen ◽

Naomi Takemura ◽

Shu-Yi Wang ◽

Chia-Chin Lin

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Dying

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Comparación del modelo paliativo y el modelo geriátrico en la calidad de muerte en una población con demencia avanzada en un programa de visita domiciliar

Revista Medica Sinergia ◽

10.31434/rms.v6i3.655 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. e655

Author(s):

José Ernesto Picado Ovares ◽

Fabián de Jesús Parra Parra ◽

Jimena Ruiz Rivera

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Dying ◽

Tratamiento Paliativo

Introducción: los adultos mayores con demencia avanzada son un grupo de población en crecimiento y que tienen necesidades particulares. No está claro cuál modelo de atención pueda generar una mejor calidad de muerte. Objetivo: comparar el impacto del modelo de tratamiento paliativo contra el geriátrico en la calidad de muerte en los pacientes con demencia avanzada. Metodología: se aplicó el Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire a los cuidadores de los pacientes que habían fallecido en los años del 2016 al 2018 y que el diagnóstico de ingreso al programa fuera el de demencia avanzada. Se generaron dos grupos dependiendo del programa que realizó la atención en el domicilio, ya sea el programa de cuidados paliativos o el de geriatría. Se realiza un análsis descriptivo de ambos grupos. Se evalúa el total general dentro de las secciones del cuestionario, así como, cada uno de los apartados que las conforman. Resultados: se registraron 162 entrevistas, 125 del cuidadores del programa geriátrico y 37 del de paliativos. Los pacientes murieron generalmente con dolor controlado, con poca conciencia de lo que pasaba alrededor, respirando cómodamente, tranquilos, sin miedo a morir, sin preocupaciones por ser una carga para la familia, pasando tiempo con sus amigos y recibiendo afecto de sus seres queridos. Los gastos, arreglos funerarios y la visita de un concejero espiritual se dieron de forma adecuada en ambos grupos. El índice de calidad de muerte y la satisfacción en la atención fue bastante alto. No hubo diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos. Conclusión: el grado de satisfacción en la atención por parte de ambos grupos fue muy bueno sin encontrarse diferencias significativas. Se debe realizar mayores investigaciones en esta población para ofrecer un modelo óptimo apropiado para sus necesidades.

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