Table.

Decedent characteristics and family reports (n = 103) about pain in dying hospitalized patients from October through December 1998

Variable	Dying patients No. (%)
Decedent age, yr, Mean ± SD (range)	74.3 ± 12.6 (40-102)
Race, white	100 (97)
Sex, male	61 (59)
Family reports patient in moderate or severe pain*	55 (54)
Family reports staff unaware of patient suffering	21 (20)
Family reports staff reluctant to medicate	12 (12)
Family reports attention to comfort needs were good or excellent*	92 (89)

^*Based on 102 reports because 1 respondent declined to respond to this item.