Abstract
Like the "day hospices" for cancer patients in England, Japanese day care services may be an effective resource for home-based palliative care. A questionnaire survey was done to investigate what medical services are available to cancer patients in existing day care centers in Japan. Methods: In November 2004, the questionnaire was sent to 108 day care centers in Okayama Prefecture, and there were 49 responses. Results: Out of the 49 day care centers, 36 had been used by cancer patients, 28 (56%) of those centers actually had cancer patients attending at the time of survey, and 4 (8%) of those centers provided special programs for cancer patients. The results of the questionnaire showed that day care centers should provide the following services to enhance domiciliary palliative care for cancer patients: 1) medical palliative treatment; 2) medically supervised special day care services, such as bathing; 3) resting periods to meet the client's needs; 4) medical function support therapy, such as stoma-care, parenteral nutrition, and infusion; and 5) psycho-social support for the patients as well as their families. Conclusion: Existing day care centers in Japan could be effective in functioning as day hospices, similar to those that exist in England.
