Table 2 Characteristics of deceased patients and bereaved relatives (n = 194)
With free text comments from bereaved relatives (n = 104) n (%)a | Without free text comments from bereaved relatives (n = 90) n (%)a | |
|---|---|---|
Patients | ||
Age (years) | ||
18–29 | 1 (1) | 0 (0) |
30–39 | 1 (1) | 3 (3) |
40–49 | 7 (7) | 5 (6) |
50–59 | 13 (13) | 13 (14) |
60–69 | 30 (29) | 25 (28) |
70–79 | 34 (33) | 31 (34) |
≥ 80 | 17 (16) | 11 (12) |
NA | 1 (1) | 2 (2) |
Gender | ||
Female | 41 (39) | 27 (30) |
NA | 1 (1) | 2 (2) |
Cancer diagnosis | ||
Breast | 6 (6) | 5 (6) |
Gastrointestinal | 37 (36) | 29 (32) |
Respiratory organs | 27 (26) | 19 (21) |
Urological, incl. Prostate | 10 (10) | 16 (18) |
Leukaemia and lymphoma | 9 (9) | 5 (6) |
Other | 17 (16) | 21 (23) |
Died in a palliative care unit (PCU) | 37 (36) | 41 (46) |
Specialist palliative care team involved (outside PCU) | 41 (39) | 27 (30) |
mean (range) median | mean (range) median | |
Length of last admission (days) | 12 (3–80) 9 | 11 (4–48) 9 |
With free text comments (n = 104) n (%)a | Without free text comments (n = 90) n (%)a | |
Bereaved relatives | ||
Age (years) | ||
18–29 | 2 (2) | 0 (0) |
30–39 | 7 (7) | 4 (4) |
40–49 | 16 (15) | 11 (12) |
50–59 | 32 (31) | 21 (23) |
60–69 | 26 (25) | 26 (29) |
70–79 | 17 (16) | 24 (27) |
≥ 80 | 3 (3) | 2 (2) |
NA | 1 (1) | 2 (2) |
Gender | ||
Female | 70 (67) | 66 (73) |
NA | 4 (4) | 2 (2) |
Relationship to patient | ||
Husband/Wife/Partner | 60 (58) | 59 (66) |
Son/Daughter | 35 (34) | 19 (21) |
Brother/Sister | 4 (4) | 5 (6) |
Son−/Daughter-in-law | 0 (0) | 2 (2) |
Parent | 2 (2) | 2 (2) |
Friend | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
Other | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
NA | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
Religious affiliation | ||
Christian | 70 (67) | 76 (84) |
Muslim | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
Hindu | 1 (1) | 0 (0) |
Jewish | 1 (1) | 0 (0) |
Any other religion | 5 (5) | 2 (2) |
None | 26 (25) | 8 (9) |
NA | 1 (1) | 3 (3) |