本計畫收錄慈濟醫院心蓮病房1996年8月9日至2000年10月15日止，共790位已結案的病患個案管理記錄。病患平均年齡閩南人 58.9 ± 14.7 歲、原住民 59.5 ± 16.3 歲、客家人62.4 ± 14.1歲、外省人73.2 ± 5.6歲，山地原住民54.9 ± 14.7歲。於此期間內花蓮縣的癌症死因病患接受安寧療護約提昇25%、山地原住民約提昇16.6%。外省人沒有陪伴者19.6%、本人為主要決定者58.5%、期待與實際往生場所在醫院照顧至往生的比例，皆為最高。發病到死亡3年內，發病到初診外省人平均46.8天為最高、山地原住民12.8天為最低， 初診到死亡外省人平均240.2天為最高、山地原住民262.2天為次低、閩南人337.6天為最高， 最後一次住院平均山地原住民28.2天為最高、客家人15.5天為最低。了解臺灣四大族群癌末病患在安寧療護型態之差異，並依其需求提供更適當的醫療服務，將有助於達成本土化的「文化平安」 (cultural safety) 安寧療護。

　　　　　Subjects of this study consisted of 790 patients who were admitted to Heart Lotus Ward (hospice ward) of Tzu-Chi Medical Center during the period from August 9, 1996 to October 15, 2000. Only cases with complete records were included. The average ages of patients were 58.9 ± 14.7 years for Taiwaness, 59.5 ± 16.3 years for aborigines, 62.4 ± 14.1 years for Huganess, and 73.2 ± 5.6 years for Mainlander. The average age of the mountain aborigines patients were 54.9 ± 14.7 years. During this period, the proportion of persons died from cancers in Hualien Hsein, who received hospice care increased to around 25%. That rate for the mountain aborigines alone increased to about 16.6%. The percentage of patients without care-givers was 19.6% in Mainlander. The patient as the primary decision maker was 58.5% in Mainlander. They were the highest rate in four groups. The percentage of patients whose expected and real death place were both in the hospital was also highest in Mainlander group. In the period onset within 3 years prior to death, the time from initial symptoms to first clinic visit was longest in Mainland patients (46.8 days) and shortest in mountain aborigines (12.8 days). The time from first clinic visit to death was shortest in Mainlander (240.2 days), the next in mountain aborigines (262.2 days), and longest in Taiwaness (337.6 days). The duration of the final hospitalization was longest in the mountain aborigines (28.2 days), and shortest in Huganess (15.5 days). Understanding characteristics of these patients who received hospice care will help medical professionals develop hospice care with "cultural safety", and provide better services to satisfy the various needs of terminal cancer patients.