Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to analyze the need for hospice care programs in families of patients with cancer.
METHOD
The study surveyed 98 families who were taking care of patients with cancer. This survey was conducted from August 2004 to October 2004 at two general hospitals in Seoul. The data were collected through a self-reporting questionnaire of 22 items. The items were classified into five areas by factor analysis to identify the construct validity. The reliability of the tool was established by Cronbach's alpha as .93 and the data collected were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA.
RESULTS
1) The degree of need for hospice care of the subjects showed a high average of 3.26 (+/-3.7). The need for 'emotional care of patients showed the highest mean (M=3.47), 'management of terminal physical symptoms' (M=3.34), 'control of secondary physical problems' (M=3.26), 'acceptance of the family's difficulty' (M=3.12), 'spiritual care for preparing for death' (M=2.96), respectively. 2) With respect to the demographic characteristics of the subjects, there were statistically significant differences in hospice care needs, according to the onset of diagnosis (F==3.110, p=.030).
CONCLUSION
Hospice care must be provided considering the needs of families of patients with cancer. In this sense, this country's needs as well as hospice nurses' higher concern and support for hospice care of patients require further education and program development to meet the current demands.