earticle

영어

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the need of medical supporting service (MSS) as a part of community-based hospice palliative care from the view point of beneficiaries and providers. Methods : This study adopted a methodological triangulation design. A questionnaire regarding intention to use MSS was completed by 175 patients under home-based cancer patient management program. And three focus groups consisted of hospice nurses, public health physicians, and public officials were interviewed to obtain the perceived needs, obstacles, and solutions of MSS. Results : Mean age of home-based cancer patient was 70.18 year old, 48.0% of them were living alone. Only 53.7% of them were treated pain and 93.7% intend to take pain medication prescribed by public health physician. All participants of focus group interviews agreed necessity and importance of MSS. Physicians' lack of confidence and unwillingness to prescribe opioid to terminal patients was the biggest obstacle to provide MSS in the public health center. Conclusions : The necessity and demand of MSS for community-dwelling cancer patients were verified. MSS is urgent issue to meet their needs.