Palliative Care Research  2015;10(2):101-107

doi:10.2512/jspm.10.101

Family evaluation about caring the body of deceased patient by nurses in Japanese inpatient hospices

Michiharu Yamawaki ; Tatsuya Morita ; Emi Kiyohara ; Megumi Shimizu ; Satoru Tsuneto ; Yasuo Shima ; Mitsunori Miyashita

Keywords

caring the body of deceased patient; postmortem care; end-of-life care; family care

Country

Japan

Language

Japanese

Abstract

Objectives: Primary aim of this study was to clarify the family evaluation about caring the body of the deceased patient by nurses at Japanese inpatient hospices and palliative care unit. Method: A mail survey was performed on 958 bereaved family members of 103 palliative care units in July, 2010. Result: A total of 597 family members replied（62％）. As a whole, 441（74％）families reported that they were satisfied with the way caring the body of the deceased patient by nurses. A multivariate analysis revealed three factors were significantly associated with the levels of satisfaction:the patient face became peaceful and calm, and nurses treated the patient in the same way before died, and patient age was over 70 years old. Conclusion: Making patient face peaceful and calm, and treating the patient in the same way before died is important in caring the body of the deceased.