Importance of end-of-life support to minimize caregiver's regret during bereavement of the elderly for better subsequent adaptation to bereavement.

This study examined whether the quality of end-of-life home medical care affected caregiver's psychological recovery from bereavement. We analyzed survey responses from an anonymous self-administered questionnaire from 147 bereaved family members (caregivers). Questionnaire content included information on the quality of end-of-life home medical care, feelings during bereavement and present feelings.

Factors enabling home death of the elderly in an institution specializing in home medical care: analysis of apprehension of the bereaved family.

Aim: To determine the factors enabling home death despite caregiver apprehension about home medical care.

Methods: This study was an anonymous mailed survey of bereaved family members (the caregiver) of patients who died in a home medical care setting provided by an institution specializing in home medical care in Japan (home death rate, approximately 80%). We analyzed the relationships between caregiver apprehension about home medical care, overall satisfaction with home medical care and the place of death.

[Factors influencing the death of the elderly at home in an institution specializing home medical care--analysis of survey of the bereaved family].

Aim: To determine factors influencing on the death of the elderly at home in an institution specializing in-home medical care (home death rate: about 80%).

Methods: This study was an anonymous mailed survey of bereaved families of patients (the caregivers) who died using the home medical care setting provided by an institution specializing in home medical care in Japan. We analyzed the relationship of demographics of the patients and the caregivers with such factors as the anxiety of the caregiver and eventual death at home, and that of such factors as perceived quality of home medical care by the caregiver, and satisfaction with home medical care, satisfaction with death bed nursing, regret for death bed nursing.

[Home medical treatment and the transfer of medical care of patients at Tokyo Women's Medical University].

We inquired the current status of our home care transfer patients who are highly dependent on medical treatment, and examined the factors that are needed to pay attention to keep a high level of QOL and to give a better long-term home care. The subjects are 380 patients who requested a homecare transfer. The following items were inquired: (1) the length of time from the request to home care transfer, (2) the length of home care, and (3) a place for the peaceful death.

Complications of central venous catheters in patients on home parenteral nutrition: an analysis of 68 patients over 16 years.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of central venous catheter (CVC) complications and to analyze the potential risk factors for complications necessitating CVC removal in patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

Methods: We studied 68 patients on HPN (44 men and 24 women), examining the incidence of CVC complications and CVC-related infections. The risk factors for CVC-related infection were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Options available for the infusion of lipid emulsion in home parenteral nutrition (HPN): a questionnaire survey for hospitals in Japan where HPN is practiced.

Objective: To understand the status of total parenteral nutritional (TPN) composition and the TPN line used for home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in Japan and to investigate how adequate nutritional support should be in HPN, we conducted a questionnaire survey.

Methods: From February to March 2004, questionnaires were sent by mail to the members of the Japan Society for Home Therapy Research. With the content of the questionnaire, we surveyed 1) the types of medical staff who are involved in HPN, 2) the status of the preparation of TPN fluid and its place of preparation, 3) use of the TPN line and final filter, and 4) administration of lipid emulsion and All-in-One.

[Questionnaire survey for doctors in the area of cooporation efforts when a terminal cancer is transformed to home medical care].

In order to smoothly transform a terminal cancer patient from hospital to home medical care, we surveyed based on questionnaires to examine doctor's roles of each primary and regional hospitals and its cooperation among the hospitals. We established two types of questionnaires for two groups, a primary doctor group and a regional doctor group, and distributed and collected them. A total of 123 doctors (35 primary doctors and 88 regional doctors) responded out of 185 doctors, and the collection rate was 66.

[Ways to make cooperation between hospital nurse and home visiting nurse in treating a final stage cancer patient at home].

Due to a payment system based on Comprehensive Medical Evaluation has been adopted, both a shorter hospitalization and the use of home nursing care have been increasing. A good cooperation between hospital and home visiting nurses is desired in order to transfer continued nursing. Regarding a home nursing care service for the most terminal cancer patients, we conducted a survey of 459 home visiting nurses with twelve questions in five categories: (1) Before transferring to home care, (2) Right after the transfer to home care, (3) Patient in a stable period, (4) Time of near death and (5) Other (Requests to hospital nurses).