Person‐centred care in the Indonesian health‐care system

Person‐centred care (PCC) is defined as the health‐care providers selecting and delivering interventions or treatments that are respectful of and responsive to the characteristics, needs, preferences and values of the individual person. This model of care puts the person at the centre of care delivery. The World Health Organization suggests that PCC is one of the essential dimensions of health care and as such is an important indicator of health‐care quality. However, how PCC is implemented differs between countries in response to local cultures, resources and consumer expectations of health care. This article discusses person‐centred care in the Indonesian health‐care system.     

Needs for end‐of‐life care by home care nurses among non‐cancer patients in Korea and Japan

The purpose of this study was to undertake a comprehensive assessment of each stage of the end‐of‐life process and the home care nursing needs of non‐cancer patients. The total number of eligible patients was 117 in Korea and 121 in Japan, aged ≥ 40, receiving continuous home care nursing throughout the beginning, stable, and at final death stages and ultimately dying at home. The need for the ‘management of physical symptoms’ increased as patients progressed through the end‐of‐life stages to death. In both countries, the needs for ‘loss and grief care’ and ‘coordination among care team members’ were significantly higher in the stable stage than in the beginning or final death stages. Further research is needed to develop tailored nursing care programmes that meet the specific needs of patients in each stage of the end‐of‐life care at home.     

Long‐Term Care Quality‐of‐Life Scale utility in community home care

This study aimed to test the utility of the Long‐Term Care Quality‐of‐Life assessment scale within community home care contexts and to compare the scale against the World Health Organization Quality‐of‐Life scale in terms of reliability and validity. Both scales were administered concurrently to 109 older adults receiving home care. Analysis revealed the Long‐Term Care Quality‐of‐Life scale to have good test–retest reliability, modest but acceptable internal consistency, and pairwise comparison between the Long‐Term Care Quality‐of‐Life and World Health Organization Quality‐of‐Life scales' scores suggesting moderate‐to‐strong correlation of criterion validity and comparability between scales. The results showed that the assessment of individual perceptions of life quality within home care contexts can be monitored and recorded, and that Long‐Term Care Quality‐of‐Life scale monitoring in home and residential care can identify opportunities for quality‐of‐life support and care continuity, even with transitions between care services and systems. The implications of the present study lie in having access to a validated quality‐of‐life assessment scale that can be used across care contexts to support evidence‐based practice, continuity of care, and acknowledgement of individual circumstances in services and care planning.     

The Tri‐focal model of care: Advancing the teaching‐nursing home concept

Providing residential aged care is challenging because of the complexity of residents’ health status, difficulties recruiting and retaining skilled staff, and financial and regulatory constraints. This paper discusses some of these challenges and describes an innovative model of care, termed ‘The Tri‐focal model of care’. This model was developed based on the concepts of ‘partnership‐centred care’, ‘positive work environment’ and the need for evidence‐based practice to underpin all aspects of care. It is envisaged that the implementation of this model will provide a rich learning environment that advances the teaching‐nursing home concept and the quality of residential aged care.     

Religious observance and perceptions of end‐of‐life care

This study examines the impact of the level of religious observance on the attitudes toward end‐of‐life (EOL) decisions and euthanasia of Jews in Israel—where euthanasia is illegal—as compared to Jews living in the USA, in the states where euthanasia is legal. A self‐reporting questionnaire on religiosity and personal beliefs and attitudes regarding EOL care and euthanasia was distributed, using a convenience sample of 271 participants from Israel and the USA. Findings show that significant differences were found in attitudes between Jews of different levels of religious observance with respect to patient autonomy, right to die with dignity, and dying in familiar and supportive surroundings. The USA and Israeli Jews have similar knowledge regarding EOL care and expressed similar attitudes and perceptions toward the issues of authority of medical staff and religious figures and patient's autonomy. Findings indicate that the level of religious observance has more potency in shaping their attitudes and perceptions of EOL decisions than the state law. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings with regard to multicultural health systems and providing practical recommendations.