Table 2

Participant priorities for improving care

Issue

Frequency

Alleviate Symptoms

34

Pain

9

Shortness of breath

7

Thirst

3

Other symptoms (gastrointestinal, cough, agitation oversedation, headache, feeling cold, dry skin, itching)

15

Reduce Delays

28

Delays in daily bedside care

9

Delays in diagnosis or treatment

8

Delay in transfer from emergency room to ward

6

Delays in discharge to home

5

Improve Daily Care

29

Assist with activities of daily living

9

Improve hospital environment

6

Arrange help at home

4

Personalize medical treatment

3

Improve food

3

Ensure staff are aware of special care needs

2

Coordinate timing of diagnostic tests

1

Obtain palliative care consultation

1

Better Access to MDs/Medical information

11

Improve Therapeutic Alliance

10

Identify responsible physician

3

Avoid unprofessional behaviors and comments

3

Reduce changes in nursing staff

2

Avoid repetitive questioning

1

Apologize for medical error

1

Address Emotions

9

Fear of abandonment

7

Loneliness

2

Discuss Life Sustaining Treatments

8

Further discussions

5

Prior discussion should have been done differently

3

Provide Personal Support

3

Write letter so family can visit from outside country

1

Wants to see chaplain

1

Want someone to speak to my loved one in their native language about their medical condition

1

Powis et al. BMC Palliative Care 2004 3:2   doi:10.1186/1472-684X-3-2