Exploring Wishes and Preferences for End of Life Care:
An Analysis of Responses to Key Questions in the Preferred Place of Care (PPC) Tool

Description of the Research

The Preferred Place of Care (PPC) tool was developed in the Lancashire & South Cumbria Cancer Network (LSCCN) and is one of three tools recommended for national rollout by the Department of Health's End of Life Care Programme. The purpose of the PPC is to elicit and promote discussion and documentation of care preferences of people approaching the end of life. The document centres around 3 key questions: what has been happening to the dying person, their wishes and preferences for care, and where they would like to receive their end of life care.

The primary aim of this qualitative study was to explore patients' wishes and preferences based on responses to these questions. The sample consisted of 200 PPC documents returned to LSCCN after the death of the patient. Responses to each of the 3 key questions were transcribed and analysed by an interdisciplinary team using an iterative thematic approach.