Abstract
Objective: To clarify the factors associated with "better end-of-life care" in specialist nursing homes, based on staff composition and care processes in interprofessional teams.
Methods: Participants throughout Japan completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire about specialist nursing homes providing end-of-life care. The questionnaire was designed to identify factors associated with "better" and "regrettable" end-of-life care, as influenced by the team care. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results: Five factors identified to be associated with better end-of-life care were as follows: 1) age of the resident, 2) involvement of physicians as core members, 3) development of individual plan for end-of-life care, and 4) cooperation and collaboration among interprofessional teams and staff, 5) treatment performed (enema).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that end-of-life care can be improved by greater interprofessional staff cooperation and collaboration, the development of individualized end-of-life care plans, and the involvement of physicians as core members of the team.
