Preferred place of death for patients with terminal illness: A literature review

Abstract

The preferred place of death of patients with terminal illness is a universal topic. Numerous international studies exist. The present narrative literature review aims to examine the preferred place of death for patients with terminal illness and to highlight the factors that play a role in their decision. The search for studies was conducted through PubMed, EBSCO, Ovid, and Cochrane Library databases. Results revealed the home as the preferred place of death of most patients, followed by the hospital and the hospice or nursing homes or the palliative care units. Among the factors affecting the preference for place of death were the support of the family caregiver, the feeling of being a burden to others, and the quality of the relationship with healthcare providers. Discrepancies emerged between the preferred place of death and the actual place of death. Further research is needed to explain this discrepancy.