Choosing care homes as the least preferred place to die: a cross-national survey of public preferences in seven European countries.

Background: Care homes are increasingly becoming places where people spend the final stages of their lives and eventually die. This trend is expected to continue due to population ageing, yet little is known about public preferences regarding this setting. As part of a larger study examining preferences and priorities for end of life care, we investigated the extent to which care homes are chosen as the least preferred place of death, and the factors associated with this negative preference.

Priorities for treatment, care and information if faced with serious illness: a comparative population-based survey in seven European countries.

Background: Health-care costs are growing, with little population-based data about people's priorities for end-of-life care, to guide service development and aid discussions.

Aim: We examined variations in people's priorities for treatment, care and information across seven European countries.

Design: Telephone survey of a random sample of households; we asked respondents their priorities if 'faced with a serious illness, like cancer, with limited time to live' and used multivariable logistic regressions to identify associated factors.

'Burden to others' as a public concern in advanced cancer: a comparative survey in seven European countries.

Background: Europe faces an enormous public health challenge with aging populations and rising cancer incidence. Little is known about what concerns the public across European countries regarding cancer care towards the end of life. We aimed to compare the level of public concern with different symptoms and problems in advanced cancer across Europe and examine factors influencing this.

Learning from the public: citizens describe the need to improve end-of-life care access, provision and recognition across Europe.

Background: Despite ageing populations and increasing cancer deaths, many European countries lack national policies regarding palliative and end-of-life care. The aim of our research was to determine public views regarding end-of-life care in the face of serious illness.

Methods: Implementation of a pan-European population-based survey with adults in England, Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

To be involved or not to be involved: a survey of public preferences for self-involvement in decision-making involving mental capacity (competency) within Europe.

Background: The Council of Europe has recommended that member states of European Union encourage their citizens to make decisions about their healthcare before they lose capacity to do so. However, it is unclear whether the public wants to make such decisions beforehand.

Aim: To examine public preferences for self-involvement in end-of-life care decision-making and identify associated factors.