Despite the recent proliferation of hospice programs and related research, a number of basic issues remain. Firstly the populations “at risk” for hospice care have not been precisely delineated. Secondly, the impact of the structure of a given hospice program on outcome has been given insufficient attention. Thirdly, assessing the impact of hospice care on quality of life has presented challenges in both definition and measurement. Finally, data relating to the costs of hospice care are difficult to evaluate. It is recommended that palliative care research focus on these areas. In addition, hospice programs and research need to be sensitive to changes over time and to dissemination of principles of hospice care.
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