Wishes
Table 2 summarizes the wish categories including additional
characteristics of the wish implementation process. Overall, 66 of 67
(98.5%) wishes were completed with at least 3 wishes for each
patient-family dyad (median, 4.5 [IQR, 3.3-6.0]). The wishes were
elicited by the family (32.0 [47.8%]), staff (28.0 [41.8%])
and patient (7.0 [10.4%]) with a majority implemented by staff
(44.0 [65.7%]). The most common category of wishes made included
facilitating connections with family, friends or pets, and keepsakes and
post-mortem tributes as per the categories defined by Cook et al (Refer
to Appendix C for examples of wishes). The wishes were
inexpensive with a range from $0 to $30 and mean cost of wishes was
$0.87. The cost was minimized by donations from staff and community
members with 19.0 (28.4%) of wishes donated.