Document 0368
 DOCN  M9590368
 TI    Dying at home: the experience of four villages in northeast Thailand.
 DT    9509
 AU    Bennett E; Salazar F; Williams A; Himmavanh V; Charerntanyarak L;
       Tropical Health Program, Medical School, University of; Queensland,
       Herston.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:123 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291731
 AB    In Thailand, increasing numbers of people are expected to die at home as
       the HIV/AIDS epidemic progresses, but there is little information about
       the issues surrounding death and dying. This study, conducted in 1994,
       used qualitative methods to describe the health care patterns,
       diagnosis, treatment and care of terminally ill people in four rural
       villages in Khon Kaen Province. The study population included
       caregivers, biomedical workers, traditional healers and Buddhist monks.
       Although patients died of cholangiocarcinoma and chronic disease other
       than HIV/AIDS, the study provides a general model for the home care of
       terminally ill people in Northeast Thailand. In a context of rapid
       social and economic change, traditional caregiving roles have altered
       and biomedical theories replace beliefs about the causation and
       treatment of disease. Traditional healers and monks are now consulted
       only if biomedicine does not provide a cure. The health system and its
       referral systems are poorly understood by village people. Once a
       diagnosis of terminal disease is made, people are discharged to die at
       home, where care is provided in a traditional way, with ample
       psychosocial care from family and community, but few inputs from the
       health service. Pain control, medical aids, financial help and caregiver
       support are not available. Traditional healers are consulted during
       end-stage illness for diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
 DE    Buddhism  *Developing Countries  Health Services, Indigenous/TRENDS
       Home Nursing/*TRENDS  Human  Religion and Medicine  *Rural Population
       Social Change  Terminal Care/*TRENDS  Thailand  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).