{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T19:19:01Z","timestamp":1777922341672,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]],"date-time":"2018-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1514764800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Palliat Care"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Cause of death information is a vital resource for family and public health, yet significant issues persist regarding its determination, documentation and communication. In this study, we aim to characterize cause of death attribution process from the perspective of next-of-kin of Veterans who died in Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. Using a semi-structured guide, we explored next-of-kin's experiences of the Veteran's terminal hospitalization and conducted a content analysis of interview texts. In over two-third of cases next-of-kin's understanding was not consistent with their recollection of physicians' determination of cause of death. Discrepancies between official cause of death and lay understanding engendered confusion and distress. Findings have relevance for shaping the context of post-death patient\/family-centered clinical practice and serve as a means for improving efficacy of cause of death communication and reducing potential for misunderstandings.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0825859717751934","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,15]],"date-time":"2018-01-15T08:14:37Z","timestamp":1516004077000},"page":"53-58","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["\u201cThey Said on the Death Certificate\u2026But Really What I Think Happened\u201d"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"33","author":[{"given":"Beverly Rosa","family":"Williams","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Birmingham\/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA, USA"},{"name":"University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"F. Amos","family":"Bailey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Birmingham\/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA, USA"},{"name":"Department of Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Patricia S.","family":"Goode","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Birmingham\/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA, USA"},{"name":"University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kathryn L.","family":"Burgio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Birmingham\/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA, USA"},{"name":"University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0825859717751934","unstructured":"Department of Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Human Services Health Statistics. Physicians\u2019 Handbook on Medical Certification of Death. Hyattsville, MD: DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2004-1108CDEC, 2003. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/misc\/hb_cod.pdf. 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