This ecological study revealed the relationship between the percentage of death at home and medical and socioeconomic characteristics. This study was a secondary analysis of national data from the Population Survey Report in 2010 and government statistics in Japan. This data was analyzed by exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. As a result of exploratory factor analysis, medical and social characteristics are classified in three domains, “depopulation and aging”, “hospital and medical facility resources” and “access for home medical care”. By multiple linear regression analysis using results of exploratory factor analysis, cancer death was associated with “access for home medical care” and death from all causes was associated with “hospital and medical facility resources” and “access for home medical care”. In conclusion, death at home in cancer patients was strongly affected by “access for home medical care”. Death at home from all causes was due to poor hospital and medical facility resources and good access to home medical.

Background: The demand for palliative care in Japan has risen over recent years, and training of palliative care physicians is an important problem. However, little is known about unmet needs for education and training systems as well as career development among young physicians who wish to specialize in palliative care. Purpose: To explore unmet needs among palliative care physicians in training. Method: We held group discussions in a forum for physicians of postgraduate year≦15, and analyzed their opinion on topics such as "what are unmet needs?" using theme analysis. Results: Forty physicians participated. Theme analysis revealed the following unmet needs among young physicians; "securing of manpower", "securing of quality of training programs/education", "improvement of network", "removal of many barriers to keeping on a palliative care physician", and "establishment of career models for a specialist". Conclusions: We should discuss solutions for the unmet needs to secure more palliative care physicians.