Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the outcomes achieved through terminal-phase inter-professional team care for residents of special nursing homes for the elderly and clarify the structure of such outcomes. This study also aimed to discuss the future outcome that the team would aim for. Methods: A nationwide questionnaire survey of the health professional staff and focus group interviews (FGIs) with each type of professionals were conducted. The data obtained from FGIs with

more »

... professional team care members were qualitatively and inductively analyzed to investigate the relationship between the categories extracted by analysis. Results: The following seven categories were identified: 1) maintaining lifestyles that residents desire and desirable death for him/herself, 2) good relationships between the residents and their families, 3) family participation in care practice and relief of residents' anxiety, 4) positive acceptance of death by other residents, 5) improvement of the quality of team care, 6) staff development and satisfaction, and 7) improvement of the facility's overall quality of care. The first five categories were direct outcomes of inter-professional team care. The last two categories were indirect outcomes. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that developing inter-professional team care with direct outcomes as indicators could improve the quality of terminal care.