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Bove DG, Simonsen SS, Herling SF, Timm H. Emergency nurses' experiences of caring for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives-a qualitative study. J Adv Nurs 2024. [PMID: 39104304 DOI: 10.1111/jan.16371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
AIM To explore how emergency nurses experienced caring for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives, and what hindered or facilitated this care in an emergency setting. DESIGN A qualitative study using Interpretive Description. METHODS Data were collected as individual interviews with 13 nurses at seven Danish emergency departments from February to June 2023. FINDINGS Our analysis revealed the overarching theme 'Navigating the complexities of providing holistic care in a constrained environment', covering five sub-themes: (1) An important yet not recognized nursing task; (2) Pending care needs of the living and the dead; (3) No physical or mental room for the brought-in-dead persons; (4) Utilizing personal experiences in the absence of formal education and training and (5) Navigating professionalism and empathy. CONCLUSION Emergency departments posed unique challenges in providing care to brought-in-dead persons and their relatives. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION The unrecognized nature of caring for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives suggests a universal undervaluation of this care in emergency departments. IMPACT Care for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives is neither recognized nor evidence-based. This study initiates a discussion of the circumstances for delivering care for persons brought-in-dead and has an impact on nurses and nursing leaders employed in emergency departments. REPORTING METHOD The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION None.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Bove
- Centre for Nursing, University College Absalon, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - S S Simonsen
- Centre for Nursing, University College Absalon, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - S F Herling
- The Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H Timm
- The University Hospitals Centre for Health Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern, Odense, Denmark
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Faroe Islands, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
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Bourmorck D, Pétré B, de Saint-Hubert M, De Brauwer I. Is palliative care a utopia for older patients with organ failure, dementia or frailty? A qualitative study through the prism of emergency department admission. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:773. [PMID: 38956595 PMCID: PMC11218079 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly three out of four older people will use the emergency department (ED) during their last year of life. However, most of them do not benefit from palliative care. Providing palliative care is a real challenge for ED clinicians who are trained in acute, life-saving medicine. Our aim is to understand the ED's role in providing palliative care for this population. METHODS We designed a qualitative study based on 1) interviews - conducted with older patients (≥ 75 years) with a palliative profile and their informal caregivers - and 2) focus groups - conducted with ED and primary care nurses and physicians. Palliative profiles were defined by the Supportive and Palliative Indicators tool (SPICT). Qualitative data was collected in French-speaking Belgium between July 2021 and July 2022. We used a constant inductive and comparative analysis. RESULTS Five older patients with a palliative profile, four informal caregivers, 55 primary and ED caregivers participated in this study. A priori, the participants did not perceive any role for the ED in palliative care. In fact, there is widespread discomfort with caring for older patients and providing palliative care. This is explained by multiple areas of tensions. Palliative care is an approach fraught with pitfalls, i.e.: knowledge and know-how gaps, their implementation depends on patients'(co)morbidity profile and professional values, experiences and type of practice. In ED, there are constant tensions between emergency and palliative care requirements, i.e.: performance, clockwork and needs for standardised procedures versus relational care, time and diversity of palliative care projects. However, even though the ED's role in palliative care is not recognised at first sight, we highlighted four roles assumed by ED caregivers: 1) Investigator, 2) Objectifier, 3) Palliative care provider, and 4) Decision-maker on the intensity of care. A common perception among participants was that ED caregivers can assist in the early identification of patients with a palliative profile. CONCLUSIONS Currently, there is widespread discomfort regarding ED caregivers caring for older patients and providing palliative care. Nonetheless, ED caregivers play four roles in palliative care for older patients. In the future, ED caregivers might also perform the role of early identifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Bourmorck
- Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Benoit Pétré
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medecine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marie de Saint-Hubert
- Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- CHU-UCL Namur, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Isabelle De Brauwer
- Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
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Strehlow M, Alvarez A, Blomkalns AL, Caretta-Wyer H, Gharahbaghian L, Imler D, Khan A, Lee M, Lobo V, Newberry JA, Riberia R, Sebok-Syer S, Shen S, Gisondi MA. Precision emergency medicine. Acad Emerg Med 2024. [PMID: 38940478 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precision health is a burgeoning scientific discipline that aims to incorporate individual variability in biological, behavioral, and social factors to develop personalized health solutions. To date, emergency medicine has not deeply engaged in the precision health movement. However, rapid advances in health technology, data science, and medical informatics offer new opportunities for emergency medicine to realize the promises of precision health. METHODS In this article, we conceptualize precision emergency medicine as an emerging paradigm and identify key drivers of its implementation into current and future clinical practice. We acknowledge important obstacles to the specialty-wide adoption of precision emergency medicine and offer solutions that conceive a successful path forward. RESULTS Precision emergency medicine is defined as the use of information and technology to deliver acute care effectively, efficiently, and authentically to individual patients and their communities. Key drivers and opportunities include leveraging human data, capitalizing on technology and digital tools, providing deliberate access to care, advancing population health, and reimagining provider education and roles. Overcoming challenges in equity, privacy, and cost is essential for success. We close with a call to action to proactively incorporate precision health into the clinical practice of emergency medicine, the training of future emergency physicians, and the research agenda of the specialty. CONCLUSIONS Precision emergency medicine leverages new technology and data-driven artificial intelligence to advance diagnostic testing, individualize patient care plans and therapeutics, and strategically refine the convergence of the health system and the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Strehlow
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Al'ai Alvarez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Andra L Blomkalns
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Holly Caretta-Wyer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Laleh Gharahbaghian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Daniel Imler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ayesha Khan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Moon Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Viveta Lobo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jennifer A Newberry
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ryan Riberia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Stefanie Sebok-Syer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sam Shen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael A Gisondi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Mehta AB, Douglas IS, Battaglia C, Wynia MK. Utilization of Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders in Older Adults During COVID-19 Surges in 2020. J Palliat Med 2024; 27:201-208. [PMID: 37616551 PMCID: PMC10908317 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Reports of poor outcomes among older adults with COVID-19 may have changed patient perceptions of Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders or caused providers to pressure older adults into accepting DNR orders to conserve resources. Objective: We determined early-DNR utilization during COVID-19 surges compared with nonsurge periods among nonsurgical adults ≥75 and its connection to hospital mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among adults ≥75 years using the California Patient Discharge Database 2020. The primary outcome was early-DNR utilization. Control cohorts included nonsurgical adults <75 years in 2020 and nonsurgical adults ≥75 in 2019. Multiple causal inference methods were used to address measured and unmeasured confounding. Results: A total of 487,955 adults ≥75 years were identified, with 233,678 admitted during COVID-19 surges. Older adults admitted during surges had higher rates of early-DNR orders (30.1% vs. 29.4%, absolute risk differences = 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-1.0) even after adjusting for patient case-mix (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04). Patients with early-DNR orders experienced higher hospital mortality (15.5% vs. 4.8%, aOR = 3.96, 95% CI: 3.85-4.06). Difference-in-difference analyses demonstrated that adults <75 years in 2020 and adults ≥75 years in 2019 did not experience variation in early-DNR utilization. Conclusions: Older adults had slightly higher rates of early-DNR orders during COVID-19 surges compared with nonsurge periods. While the difference in early-DNR utilization was small, it was linked to higher odds of death. The increase in early-DNR use only during COVID-19 surges and only among older adults may reflect changes in patient preferences or increased pressure on older adults stemming from provider fears of rationing during COVID-19 surges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuj B. Mehta
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Denver Health and Hospital Association, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ivor S. Douglas
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Denver Health and Hospital Association, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Catherine Battaglia
- Department of Health System Management and Policy, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Veteran Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew K. Wynia
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Health System Management and Policy, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Rose J, Rödler JV, Munsch C, Kroh B, Bergrath S. [End-of-life care in the emergency department-Indications for admission and spectrum of care-State of the art]. DIE ANAESTHESIOLOGIE 2024; 73:17-25. [PMID: 38172420 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-023-01367-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency departments (EDs) and ED observation units provide care for a wide range of medical emergencies, serving patients of all ages and conditions. This includes palliative care for patients who are rapidly deteriorating. However, there is limited knowledge about the incidence, reasons for ED visits, modes of arrival, symptoms, leading diagnoses, and the emergency care provided to these patients until the time of death. METHOD This retrospective, exploratory study was conducted at the 754-bed Kliniken Maria Hilf academic teaching hospital in Moenchengladbach, Germany. It included patients who died in the ED resuscitation rooms or ED observation unit between 1st of July 2018 and 30th of June 2023. We utilized routine data to analyze the reasons for ED visits, modes of arrival, symptoms, diagnoses and the medical care provided. We also examined differences between oncologic and non-oncologic patients as well as between those requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and those who did not. The study was approved by an ethics committee and categorical data were analyzed using the χ2-test with Yates correction. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant due to the exploratory nature of the study. RESULTS During the study period 168,328 patients were treated in the ED, with 43% admitted to the hospital. Of these, 262 died in the ED or ED observation unit. The primary mode of arrival was emergency medical services for 234 patients (89%). The most common symptoms were impaired consciousness (n = 198; 76%) and dyspnea (n = 83; 32%), among a range of others. Comparing non-oncologic (n = 214) and oncologic patients (n = 48), the former showed significantly higher rates of impaired consciousness (174/214 vs. 24/48; p = 0.0001), while dyspnea was more prevalent in oncologic patients (57/214 vs. 26/48; p = 0.0002). Among patients who underwent CPR (n = 147) and those who did not (n = 115), no statistical differences were found in levels of consciousness but a significant difference in dyspnea (prior to cardiac arrest) was noted (31/147 vs. 52/115; p = 0.0001). Palliative status was documented in 88 cases (34%), with palliative care initiated in only 58 (21%). Only three patients (1%) were receiving specialized outpatient palliative care (SAPV). The most common medical interventions were invasive ventilation (n = 160; 61%), opioid administration (n = 145; 55%), CPR (n = 143; 55%), and crystalloid administration (n = 90; 34%). Structured communication with relatives occurred in 188 cases (72%). CONCLUSION The incidence of death in a large German ED was approximately one patient per week. These patients typically presented with symptoms common in critically ill non-trauma cases. The low incidence of SAPV patients (1%) suggests its potential to reduce ED admissions. Oncologic patients were a minority, possibly due to effective outpatient care and lower mortality within the first 24 h after ED admission. Emergency palliative care in the ED could alleviate the burden on intensive care units. Training ED staff in acute palliative care and establishing procedural standards for such care are essential to maintain high-quality treatment, given the frequency of palliative cases in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspar Rose
- Kliniken Maria Hilf, Zentrum für klinische Akut- und Notfallmedizin, Lehrkrankenhaus der RWTH Aachen, Viersener Str. 450, 41063, Mönchengladbach, Deutschland
- Lehrstuhl für Anästhesiologie, Medizinische Fakultät der RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Jana Vienna Rödler
- Kliniken Maria Hilf, Zentrum für klinische Akut- und Notfallmedizin, Lehrkrankenhaus der RWTH Aachen, Viersener Str. 450, 41063, Mönchengladbach, Deutschland
| | - Christiane Munsch
- Kliniken Maria Hilf, Sektion Palliativmedizin, Lehrkrankenhaus der RWTH Aachen, Mönchengladbach, Deutschland
| | - Burkhard Kroh
- Kliniken Maria Hilf, Katholische Klinikseelsorge, Lehrkrankenhaus der RWTH Aachen, Mönchengladbach, Deutschland
| | - Sebastian Bergrath
- Kliniken Maria Hilf, Zentrum für klinische Akut- und Notfallmedizin, Lehrkrankenhaus der RWTH Aachen, Viersener Str. 450, 41063, Mönchengladbach, Deutschland.
- Lehrstuhl für Anästhesiologie, Medizinische Fakultät der RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Deutschland.
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Fernández Alonso C, Fuentes Ferrer M, Llorens P, Burillo G, Alquézar-Arbé A, Jacob J, Montero-Pérez FJ, Aguiló S, Abad Cuñado V, Amer Al Arud L, Escudero Sánchez C, Poch Ferret EA, Hong Cho JU, Escolar Martínez-Berganza MT, Gayoso Martín S, Sánchez Sindín G, Prieto Zapico A, Petrus Rivas MC, Doi Grande AL, Llauger L, Rodríguez Valles C, Marquez Quero L, Juárez González R, Ruescas E, Fernández Salgado F, Ríos Gallardo R, de Juan Gómez MÁ, Masid Barco M, González Del Castillo J, Miró Ò. Impact of First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mortality at Emergency Department in Older Patients with COVID and Non-COVID Diagnoses. Gerontology 2023; 70:379-389. [PMID: 38160663 DOI: 10.1159/000535913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mortality in emergency departments (EDs) is not well known. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first-wave pandemic on deaths accounted in the ED of older patients with COVID and non-COVID diseases. METHODS We used data from the Emergency Department and Elderly Needs (EDEN) cohort (pre-COVID period) and from the EDEN-COVID cohort (COVID period) that included all patients ≥65 years seen in 52 Spanish EDs from April 1 to 7, 2019, and March 30 to April 5, 2020, respectively. We recorded patient characteristics and final destination at ED. We compared older patients in the pre-COVID period, with older patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19. ED-mortality (before discharge or hospitalization) is the prior outcome and is expressed as an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% interval confidence. RESULTS We included 23,338 older patients from the pre-COVID period (aged 78.3 [8.1] years), 6,715 patients with non-COVID conditions (aged 78.9 [8.2] years) and 3,055 with COVID (aged 78.3 [8.3] years) from the COVID period. Compared to the older patients, pre-COVID period, patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19 were more often male, referred by a doctor and by ambulance, with more comorbidity and disability, dementia, nursing home, and more risk according to qSOFA, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-COVID period, patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19 were more often to be hospitalized from ED (24.8% vs. 44.3% vs. 79.1%) and were more often to die in ED (0.6% vs. 1.2% vs. 2.2%), respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-COVID period, aOR for age, sex, comorbidity and disability, ED mortality in elderly patients cared in ED during the COVID period was 2.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76-3.06), and 3.75 (95% CI: 2.77-5.07) for patients with COVID. By adding the variable qSOFA to the model, such OR were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11-2.30) and 2.16 (95% CI: 1.47-3.17), respectively. CONCLUSIONS During the early first pandemic wave of COVID-19, more complex and life-threatening older with COVID and non-COVID diseases were seen compared to the pre-COVID period. In addition, the need for hospitalization and the ED mortality doubled in non-COVID and tripled in COVID diagnosis. This increase in ED mortality is not only explained by the complexity or severity of the elderly patients but also because of the system's overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesáreo Fernández Alonso
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IDISSC, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Fuentes Ferrer
- Investigation Unit, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Pere Llorens
- Emergency Department, Unidad de Estancia Corta y Hospitalización a Domicilio, Hospital Doctor Balmis de Alicante, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Guillermo Burillo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Aitor Alquézar-Arbé
- Emergency Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Jacob
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sira Aguiló
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanesa Abad Cuñado
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lilia Amer Al Arud
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lluís Llauger
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari de Vic, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Esther Ruescas
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Vinalopó, Elche, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Marta Masid Barco
- Emergency Department, Hospital Univeristario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | | | - Òscar Miró
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Sausman J, Arif A, Young A, MacArtney J, Bailey C, Rajani J, Burt R. Healthcare professionals' perspectives of the management of people with palliative care needs in the emergency department of a UK hospital. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:129. [PMID: 37670312 PMCID: PMC10481573 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Emergency Department (ED) is not always the optimal place for people with palliative care needs but is the most common route for treatment when urgent care is sought. The aim of this study,''REasons for PalLIative Care Admissions (REPLICA)' was to explore the perspectives of ED healthcare professionals of hospital admission or discharge via ED for palliative care patients. METHODS This is a sequential mixed methods study comprising (i) quantitative descriptive analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) of palliative care patients (code Z51.5) who were admitted through ED in a West Midlands Hospital and for the rest of England; (ii) in-depth semi-structured interviews with 17 ED staff which were analysed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS Over the four years (2013-2017), 430,116 people admitted through ED were identified with a Z51.5 diagnosis code, 0.6% (n = 2736) of whom were from the West Midlands Hospital. The most common reasons for palliative care patients' admission to hospitals across England were for care of chronic kidney disease, cancers and urinary tract infections. Five themes were elicited from the qualitative analysis: (1) Providing palliative care in ED is challenging, due to factors including lack of training in palliative care and the unsuitable environment. (2) Patients go to ED due to challenges in community management such as inappropriate referrals and no care plan in place. (3) Health system influences admission and discharge decisions, including bed availability and being unable to set up community services out-of-hours. (4) Discussion with patient about treatment and end of life care needs to be outside of ED whilst the patient is still well enough to express their wishes. (5) Improving services for patients with palliative care needs. Recommendations include short training sessions for ED staff and accessing palliative care professionals 24/7. CONCLUSIONS A large number of palliative care patients visit ED and are admitted to hospital for care; there is an urgent need to prevent patients attending the hospital through the establishment of a coordinated and dedicated service to support palliative care patients in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Sausman
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK
| | - Azra Arif
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK
| | - Annie Young
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK.
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
| | - John MacArtney
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Cara Bailey
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jaimini Rajani
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK
| | - Rebecca Burt
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK
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Erel M, Marcus EL, Heyman SN, DeKeyser Ganz F. Do Perceptions about Palliative Care Affect Emergency Decisions of Health Personnel for Patients with Advanced Dementia? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10236. [PMID: 36011871 PMCID: PMC9408797 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Decision analysis regarding emergency medical treatment in patients with advanced dementia has seldom been investigated. We aimed to examine the preferred medical treatment in emergency situations for patients with advanced dementia and its association with perceptions of palliative care. We conducted a survey of 159 physicians and 156 nurses from medical and surgical wards in two tertiary hospitals. The questionnaire included two case scenarios of patients with advanced dementia presenting gastrointestinal bleeding (scenario I) or pneumonia (scenario II) with a list of possible interventions and 11 items probing perceptions towards palliative care. Low burden interventions such as laboratory tests and intravenous administration of antibiotics/blood were preferred. Palliative measures such as analgesia/sedation were chosen by about half of the participants and invasive intervention by 41.6% (gastroscopy in scenario I) and 37.1% (intubation/mechanical ventilation in scenario II). Medical ward staff had a more palliative approach than surgical ward staff in scenario I, and senior staff had a more palliative approach than junior staff in scenario II. Most participants (90.4%) agreed that palliative care was appropriate for patients with advanced dementia. Stress in caring for patients with advanced dementia was reported by 24.5% of participants; 33.1% admitted fear of lawsuit, 33.8% were concerned about senior-level responses, and 69.7% were apprehensive of family members' reaction to palliative care. Perceptions of health care workers towards palliative care were associated with preferred treatment choice for patients with advanced dementia, mainly in scenario II. Attitudes and apprehensions regarding palliative care in these situations may explain the gap between positive attitudes towards palliative care and the chosen treatment approach. Acquainting emergency care practitioners with the benefits of palliative care may impact their decisions when treating this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meira Erel
- Henrietta Szold School of Nursing, Hadassah Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Esther-Lee Marcus
- Henrietta Szold School of Nursing, Hadassah Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- Herzog-Medical Center, Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9103702, Israel
| | - Samuel N. Heyman
- Herzog-Medical Center, Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9103702, Israel
- Department of Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 9765422, Israel
| | - Freda DeKeyser Ganz
- Henrietta Szold School of Nursing, Hadassah Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9372115, Israel
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