Today we learned one paper about opinion survey of nursing or caring staff at long-term care facilities about end-of-life care provision and staff education. Although long-term care facilities are expected to assume a growing responsibility in caring for the dying elderly，research in this area is still in its early stages in Japan . The present study aims to explore the educational and support needs of nursing home care staff in comparison with geriatric hospital, which provide 24-h physician service.

Methods

  Data was collected through questionnaires covering the following: (i) possible barriers to end-of-life care provision at own facilities and (ii) areas in which a need for education was perceived. The data was analyzed using Statview-J5.0. Group differences were compared using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The p<0.05 levels were considered to be significant. The research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Nagoya University School of Medicine Research Ethics Board.

Results

  Staff education were crucial in the provision of end-of-life care at their facilities. Dementia care, physical care, communication with residents and families, psychological aspects of dying, and pain/symptom control were listed as the five items deemed most important to address. This study indicated that nursing and caring staff recognize a need in 24-h medical service and hospital involvement to fend-of-life care provision at their facilities, and that staff are eager to be educated concerning end-of-life.

Discussions 

  Additional resources are needed for adequate end-of-life care at facility Staffs’ educational needs concerning end-of-life care at facility.

  By learning this paper, I think that the research of end-of-life care and long-term care facilities is very important. I believe it will come out certainly in China with development of end-of-life care.

(Guo ming-xian)