• S C McMillan.
• College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
• Oncol Nurs Forum. 1996 Sep 1; 23 (8): 1221-8.

Purpose/ObjectivesTo evaluate the outcomes of hospice services and explore factors that affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cancer receiving hospice care.DesignDescriptive.SettingTwo homecare hospices in the southeastern United States.SampleConvenience sample of 118 hospice patients with a diagnosis of cancer and their primary caregivers.MethodsThe Hospice Quality of Life Index (HQLI) was administered to patients and caregivers within 48 hours of admission and after three weeks of hospice care.Main Research VariableQOL.FindingsHQLI scores could range from a low of 25 to a high of 250. Mean HQLI scores of the patients ranged from 168-173.7; the caregivers' means ranged from 157-158. Factor analysis confirmed four subscales: physical/functional, social/spiritual, psychological, and financial well-being. The social/spiritual subscale resulted in the highest mean scores (74.9), and the physical/functional subscale had the lowest (23.9). Correlations between patient and caregiver HQLI scores were only moderate (r = 0.51-0.55)ConclusionsOverall QOL remained stable during the study period when measured by an apparently valid and reliable instrument. QOL is characterized by multidimensionality and subjectivity.Implications For Nursing PracticeNurses need to design interventions to support the QOL of people who are terminally ill, with a particular focus on the physical/functional aspects of care. QOL assessment data should be collected from patients whenever possible, and outcomes of care should continue to be studied using valid and reliable tools.

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