Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
- To describe the last year in the lives of a random sample of adults dying in 1987. 2. To make comparisons with an earlier study and identify change in the nature and availability of care and in the attitudes and expectations of lay and professional carers. 3. To make some assessment of the influence of the hospice movement on these changes. 4. To describe in more detail than the previous 1969 study, the institutional care of people in the year preceeding their death. 5. To determine the experience and views of the doctors and nurses involved in the care of these people in the last year of their lives. 6. To describe the care and support given to close relatives both after and before the death. An earlier study <i>Life Before Death, 1969</i> is held at the Data Archive as Study No. 393.
Main Topics:
Methodological issues in studying life before death; the roles of professionals, hospitals, hospices, residential and nursing homes, and day centres in caring for the dying; the balance of care; hospice deaths and cancer deaths; experiences of those who died and those who cared for them; changes since 1969. Characteristics of the general practitioners were obtained from DHSS data.
One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
Local authority areas (or combinations for small numbers of deaths) chosen after stratification into 3 groups: (1) with no hospice or hospice service (2) hospice service but no beds (3) hospice service with beds. For further details see documentation.
Face-to-face interview
Telephone interview
Postal survey
Questionnaire interview with person who knew most about those who died; postal questionnaire to general practitioners and consultants about views and experiences; Face to face, postal and telephone interviewing was used for community nurses.
