Dying at the Diakonhjemmet Hospital in 1977, 1987 and 1997 - Assessment of the Next of Kin, 1998

In 1977, there was little discussion about the needs of dying persons. Treatment, not relief, was focused on. The research work conducted in 1977 was therefore groundbreaking in Norway. The follow-up study in 1987 showed that at there was improvment in some areas. Doctors were more reluctant to give purposeless life-prolonging treatment and pain treatment had improved - but openness about death had not improved. In 1997, health professionals, theoretically, had far better knowledge concerning the needs of dying persons. The relatives experiences that symptom relief had improved, but they felt that they actually were less informed that death was imminent than in 1987.