Perspectives of bereaved relatives of patients with haematological malignancies concerning preferred place of care and death: A qualitative study:

Background:People with haematological malignancies have different end-of-life care patterns from those with other cancers and are more likely to die in hospital. Little is known about patient and relative preferences at this time and whether these are achieved.Aim:To explore the experiences and reflections of bereaved relatives of patients with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, and examine (1) preferred place of care and death; (2) perceptions of factors influencing attainment of preferences; and (3) changes that could promote achievement of preferences.Design:Qualitative interview study incorporating ‘Framework’ analysis.Setting/participants:A total of 10 in-depth interviews with bereaved relatives.Results:Although most people expressed a preference for home death, not all attained this. The influencing factors include disease characteristics (potential for sudden deterioration and death), the occurrence and timing of discussions (treatment cessation, prognosis, place of care/death), family networks (willi...