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Bakken J, Wallgren GC, Furnes B, Kørner H, Ueland V. Organizational structures influencing timely recognition and acknowledgment of end-of-life in hospitals - A qualitative study of nurses' and doctors' experiences. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2023; 67:102420. [PMID: 37883907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102420] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Healthcare personnel's timely recognition and acknowledgment of end-of-life (EOL) is fundamental for reducing futile treatment, enabling informed decisions regarding the last days or weeks of life, and focusing on high-quality palliative care. The aim of this study is to explore and describe nurses' and doctors' experiences of how organizational structures in hospitals influence timely recognition and acknowledgment of EOL. METHODS A qualitative explorative design was applied, with data collected through 12 individual in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. A total of 6 nurses and 6 doctors were strategically recruited from medical and surgical wards in a Norwegian hospital. Qualitative content analysis was used. RESULTS The analysis revealed the theme The importance of hospital organizational structures in timely recognition and acknowledgment of EOL and a subtheme comprising three areas of organizational structures influencing timely recognition and acknowledgment of EOL; Challenges to and demands of continuity, collaboration, and time. CONCLUSIONS The study's results show challenges in identifying when cancer patients approach the last weeks and days of life within hospital wards. For nurses and doctors to be able to recognize and acknowledge EOL, continuity of care, collaboration, and time is needed. A fragmented healthcare system, with a predominant focus on treatment and cure, may prevent cancer patients from receiving timely palliative, care causing unnecessary suffering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Bakken
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, N-4021, Norway.
| | | | - Bodil Furnes
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, N-4021, Norway.
| | - Hartwig Kørner
- Department of Gastro-Intestinal Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, N-4068, Norway; Regional Center of Excellence of Palliative Care Western Norway, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, N-5020, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Venke Ueland
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, N-4021, Norway.
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Latham JS, Butchard S, Mason SR. Physician emotional experience of communication and decision making with end-of-life patients: qualitative studies systematic review. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2022:bmjspcare-2021-003446. [PMID: 35414630 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the emotional experience of physicians in acute settings when encountering end-of-life conversations and decision making. METHOD Thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, BNI and CIAHL were searched from 1985 to 2021 for studies published in English. Data extraction was informed by a framework created for assessing methodological quality by Polanin, Pigott, Espelage and Grotpeter (2019) and adapted by Draper et al. (2019). RESULTS Of 8429 papers identified, 17 were selected for review. Two themes containing 10 subthemes described the emotional and psychological factors impacting the experience of end-of-life care, namely: a tension between desire and ability to communicate end-of-life news, and a conflict of hiding versus revealing self across several practical and emotional contexts. CONCLUSION Medical training is only a small factor in how well a person copes with end-of-life care and may sometimes feed negative appraisals . Lack of support from senior colleagues, fear of criticism and a sense of perceived failure were linked to lower self-efficacy in end-of-life care. Beyond learning practical skills, physicians benefit from understanding the psychological factors impacting their experience and in building self-efficacy, and observing senior colleagues effectively process strong and difficult emotions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Promoting personal reflection and sharing of the experiences encountered in end-of-life care, especially modelled from senior colleagues, may contribute to improvements in competence and reduce the impact of heroism, feelings of failure and avoidance in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S Latham
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sarah Butchard
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen R Mason
- Palliative Care Unit, School of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Shafir A, Ritchie CS, Garrett SB, Bernstein Sideman A, Naasan G, Merrilees J, Widera E, Flint L, Harrison KL. "Captive by the Uncertainty"-Experiences with Anticipatory Guidance for People Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers at a Specialty Dementia Clinic. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 86:787-800. [PMID: 35124641 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND After a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, people living with dementia (PWD) and caregivers wonder what disease trajectory to expect and how to plan for functional and cognitive decline. This qualitative study aimed to identify patient and caregiver experiences receiving anticipatory guidance about dementia from a specialty dementia clinic. OBJECTIVE To examine PWD and caregiver perspectives on receiving anticipatory guidance from a specialty dementia clinic. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with PWD, and active and bereaved family caregivers, recruited from a specialty dementia clinic. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and systematically summarized. Thematic analysis identified anticipatory guidance received from clinical or non-clinical sources and areas where respondents wanted additional guidance. RESULTS Of 40 participants, 9 were PWD, 16 were active caregivers, and 15 were bereaved caregivers. PWD had a mean age of 75 and were primarily male (n = 6/9); caregivers had a mean age of 67 and were primarily female (n = 21/31). Participants felt they received incomplete or "hesitant" guidance on prognosis and expected disease course via their clinicians and filled the gap with information they found via the internet, books, and support groups. They appreciated guidance on behavioral, safety, and communication issues from clinicians, but found more timely and advance guidance from other non-clinical sources. Guidance on legal and financial planning was primarily identified through non-clinical sources. CONCLUSION PWD and caregivers want more information about expected disease course, prognosis, and help planning after diagnosis. Clinicians have an opportunity to improve anticipatory guidance communication and subsequent care provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Shafir
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christine S Ritchie
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine and the Mongan Institute Center for Aging and Serious Illness, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sarah B Garrett
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alissa Bernstein Sideman
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,UCSF Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Georges Naasan
- The Barbara and Maurice Deane Center for Wellness and Cognitive Health, Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Merrilees
- UCSF Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Eric Widera
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lynn Flint
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Krista L Harrison
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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de Smit MJ, Bakker MH, Tams J, Vissink A, Visser A. When should root remnants and unrestorable broken teeth be extracted in frail older adults? J Am Dent Assoc 2021; 152:855-864. [PMID: 34392937 DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many frail older adults have an unhealthy dentition; unrestorable broken teeth and root remnants with open root canals, commonly accompanied by periapical and periodontal inflammation, are often seen. Improving oral health in the growing group of frail older adults with remaining teeth is a considerable challenge for dental care professionals. Dentists are often uncertain how to deal with root remnants and unrestorable broken teeth in frail older adults. METHODS The authors aim was to provide recommendations to dentists to help in their clinical decision making about the extraction or retention of roots remnants and broken teeth in frail older adults. CONCLUSIONS Decisions about the extraction or retention of root remnants should made on the basis of preventing pain and oral discomfort, preventing severe inflammation, and preventing additional decline in oral health. Both root-related and patient-related factors are considered. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Decision-making trees can help dentists decide whether to extract root remnants and unrestorable broken teeth in frail older adults.
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