• Sonja Bussmann, Pia Muders, Corinna Aruna Zahrt-Omar, Pinzon Luis Carlos Escobar, Matthias Claus, Jan Schildmann, and Martin Weber.
• Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Unit, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
• Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2015 Feb 1; 32 (1): 44-51.

ObjectivesTo explore and document the experiences and expectancies of bereaved family members concerning the end-of-life (EOL) care of their deceased relative in a general hospital setting.MethodsCross-sectional study using a questionnaire that included open-ended questions. Free-text answers were evaluated with qualitative content analysis. A total of 270 family members provided information about improvements in inpatient care.ResultsFamilies described structural deficiencies. Furthermore, they requested a more holistic patient health care beyond medical treatment and expressed the wish for more professional support for families.DiscussionThe view of bereaved families confirmed the need for improvement in general hospital EOL care. The results underline the importance of a more holistic EOL care. The application of communication skills training, structured family meetings, and integrated pathways is recommended.© The Author(s) 2014.

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