Next-of-Kin's Perspectives of End-of-Life Care

The purpose of this article was to describe the next-of-kin's perspective of the end-of-life (EOL) experiences associated with the death of a family member or close friend. The quality of EOL care from the next-of-kin's perspective given to their loved one needs further study in the context of a community setting focus. A secondary analysis of data from a survey of a random sample of dying experiences in the community setting included qualitative descriptive analysis of open-ended survey data and content analysis used to count the number of positive, negative, mixed, and not applicable responses. Qualitative content analysis of 186 next-of-kin responses revealed two themes: (1) communication and (2) family values and preferences including three subthemes of having a supportive environment to secure a peaceful death with dignity and respect, the desire to be present at the time of death, and attending to the needs and wishes of the dying individual and family. The need for palliative care services in institutionalized settings, continuity of provider care (physician and nurse), family presence, and support for caregiver and financial concerns with hospice services was identified. Communication remains an essential component in all aspects of EOL care with further examination involving the loved one's perspectives.