Table 2.

Participant priorities for improving care

Issue	Frequency
Alleviate Symptoms	34
Pain	9
Shortness of breath	7
Thirst	3
Other symptoms (gastrointestinal, cough, agitation oversedation, headache, feeling cold, dry skin, itching)	15
Reduce Delays	28
Delays in daily bedside care	9
Delays in diagnosis or treatment	8
Delay in transfer from emergency room to ward	6
Delays in discharge to home	5
Improve Daily Care	29
Assist with activities of daily living	9
Improve hospital environment	6
Arrange help at home	4
Personalize medical treatment	3
Improve food	3
Ensure staff are aware of special care needs	2
Coordinate timing of diagnostic tests	1
Obtain palliative care consultation	1
Better Access to MDs/Medical information	11
Improve Therapeutic Alliance	10
Identify responsible physician	3
Avoid unprofessional behaviors and comments	3
Reduce changes in nursing staff	2
Avoid repetitive questioning	1
Apologize for medical error	1
Address Emotions	9
Fear of abandonment	7
Loneliness	2
Discuss Life Sustaining Treatments	8
Further discussions	5
Prior discussion should have been done differently	3
Provide Personal Support	3
Write letter so family can visit from outside country	1
Wants to see chaplain	1
Want someone to speak to my loved one in their native language about their medical condition	1