[Relatives' attitude towards death in hospital]

INTRODUCTION: A survey was conducted over 13 months to measure the satisfaction level of relatives to patients, who had died in hospital. METHODS: The survey contained a questionnaire of 75 questions measuring satisfaction in different areas: the amount and quality of information given to the relatives by doctors, the support and care provided by the staff, and the quality of the physical environment. RESULTS: Out of 619 questionnaires posted, 462 were returned (74.6% response rate). Only half the relatives were satisfied with the level of information given by doctors to themselves and the one dying. Twenty-four per cent of the respondents were dissatisfied by the length of time taken by doctors to inform them about the situation. A broad majority of respondents (85%) were very satisfied with the care and support provided by the nursing staff. Sixty-six per cent of the patients died in private wards. Fifty-five per cent of the relatives were satisfied with the quality of the patient's room, but only 37% were satisfied with the environment offered to them. One in five was especially dissatisfied by the lack of a special room, which would permit enabling private conversations in an undisturbed environment. DISCUSSION: Our survey shows that doctors' communication with the relatives of dying patients needs to be improved. There also seems to be a need for providing a better environment for the relatives of dying patients by reserving separate rooms for rest and conversation.