Survey of directors of long-term care facilities on opinions about end-of-life care and director education

• Published in: Igaku Kyoiku / Medical Education (Japan) Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 245 - 250
• Main Authors: UEMURA, Kazumasa, HIRAKAWA, Yoshihisa, KUZUYA, Masafumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Medical Education 25.08.2008
• Subjects: death; education; end-of-life care; long-term care facilities; staff
• ISSN: 0386-9644; 2185-0453
• DOI: 10.11307/mededjapan1970.39.245

AIM: gradual shift, from hospitals to long-term care facilities, in where elderly people spend their last years is expected in Japan.Therefore, we performed a questionnaire survey to assess the opinions of directors of long-term care facilities about end-of-life care and director education. METHODS: In December 2006, data were collected through mailed, anonymous, and self-administered questionnaires. The subjects of this study were managing directors of 214 long-term care facilities in Nagoya City. Our questionnaire survey focused on the directors' attitudes about the following end-of-life issues: 1) requirements for implementing progressive policies for end-of-life care, and 2) educational training for end-of-life care. For data analysis, we divided the facilities into three groups: geriatric hospitals, geriatric health services facilities, and nursing homes. RESULTS: Directors of 82 facilities returned completed questionnaires (response rate, 38.3%). They regarded staff education concerning end-of-life care, outside medical support, private rooms for end-of-life care, and 24-hour availability of physicians or nurse as requirements for quality end-of-life care at long-term care facilities. Nursing-home directors felt more strongly about the need for 24-hour medical services for end-of-life care than did directors of other types of facilities.Also, most directors wanted to receive additional training about clients' decision-making processes, communi-cation skills, and legal issues related to end-of-life care. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that staff education concerning end-of-life care and 24-hour medical services are required for quality end-of-life care at long-term care facilities for the elderly.