J-HOPE study: Evaluation of end-of-life cancer care in Japan from the perspective of bereaved family members

9577 Background: The Japan Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation (J-HOPE) study was conducted in 2007 and 2008. The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of end-of-life care at regional cancer centers (CCs), inpatient palliative care units (PCUs), and home hospices (HHs) in Japan from the perspective of bereaved family members. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional mail survey was conducted in 2007 and 2008. The survey was sent to bereaved families 6–18 months after the death of a patient at 56 CCs, 100 PCUs, or 14 HHs. Outcome measures were the good death inventory, the care evaluation scale, and overall satisfaction with care. The protocol of this study was approved by the institutional review boards of each participating institution. Results: Of the 13,181 bereaved family members that received the survey, 8,163 (62%) participants returned their responses. Among bereaved family members, significantly fewer responded that patients were free from physical distress at CCs (50%) than PCUs (80%) and HHs (73%) (P No significant financial relationships to disclose.