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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Ruth Palombo, PhD, Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, 617-636-3480, ruth.palombo@tufts.edu and Margaret Ann Metzger, JD, Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care, 12 Arlington Road, Wellesley, MA 02481.

The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care (“Commission”), a legislative commission established to improve the quality of life at the end of life, and AARP Massachusetts collaborated on a first-ever effort to gather Massachusetts specific end-of-life data about attitudes, behaviors and concerns.

This study uses data from two surveys (with the same questions), distributed during March and April 2005. One survey was sent to a random sample of 3,000 Massachusetts residents age 35+. The other was sent to a random sample of 3000 Massachusetts AARP members age 50+.

Concern about quality of life at the end of life emerged as a consistent theme as people expressed their desire for communication, connections, comfort and control. One important finding was a gap in communication between respondents and physicians. More than 8 in 10 respondents said they are comfortable talking about death and do so, primarily within the family. More than 4 in 10 said they would want their primary care doctor to initiate a conversation about end of life care but fewer than 2 in 10 had spoken with a doctor about their preferences. Findings about fears related to dying, pain management, the need for physical, spiritual and emotional support, and the completion of healthcare proxies will also be presented.

The Commission's Massachusetts-specific data is empowering key stakeholders, (the legislature, hospitals, physicians/health care providers, community agencies serving older adults, hospices and long term care facilities) to reflect on current end-of-life care in Massachusetts and take actions to promote improvement.

Learning Objectives: At the concludsion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the most prevalent end of life attitudes and concerns expressed by survey respondents
• Articulate the role of communication and connections with doctors, family and community at the end of life
• Recognize common fears about death and dying

Keywords: End-of-Life Care, Death

Related Web page: www.endoflifecommission.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation