TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of a good death
T2 - A qualitative study in intensive care units in England and Israel
AU - Endacott, R.
AU - Boyer, C.
AU - Benbenishty, J.
AU - Ben Nunn, M.
AU - Ryan, H.
AU - Chamberlain, W.
AU - Boulanger, C.
AU - Ganz, F. D.
PY - 2016/10
Y1 - 2016/10
N2 - Objectives To explore factors perceived to contribute to ‘a good death’ and the quality of end of life care in two countries with differing legal and cultural contexts. Design and methods Multi-centre study consisting of focus group and individual interviews with intensive care nurses. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis; emotional content was analysed using specialist linguistic software. Settings/participants Fifty five Registered Nurses in intensive care units in Israel (n = 4) and England (n = 3), purposively sampled across age, ICU experience and seniority. Findings Four themes and eleven sub-themes were identified that were similar in both countries. Participants identified themes of: (i) timing of communication, (ii) accommodating individual behaviours, (iii) appropriate care environment and (iv) achieving closure, which they perceive prevent, and contribute to, a good death and good quality of end of life care. Emotional content showed significant amount of ‘sadness talk’ and ‘discrepancy talk’, using words such as ‘could and ‘should’ when participants were talking about the actions of clinicians. Conclusions The qualities of a good death were more similar than different across cultures and legal systems. Themes identified by participants may provide a framework for guiding end of life discussions in the intensive care unit.
AB - Objectives To explore factors perceived to contribute to ‘a good death’ and the quality of end of life care in two countries with differing legal and cultural contexts. Design and methods Multi-centre study consisting of focus group and individual interviews with intensive care nurses. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis; emotional content was analysed using specialist linguistic software. Settings/participants Fifty five Registered Nurses in intensive care units in Israel (n = 4) and England (n = 3), purposively sampled across age, ICU experience and seniority. Findings Four themes and eleven sub-themes were identified that were similar in both countries. Participants identified themes of: (i) timing of communication, (ii) accommodating individual behaviours, (iii) appropriate care environment and (iv) achieving closure, which they perceive prevent, and contribute to, a good death and good quality of end of life care. Emotional content showed significant amount of ‘sadness talk’ and ‘discrepancy talk’, using words such as ‘could and ‘should’ when participants were talking about the actions of clinicians. Conclusions The qualities of a good death were more similar than different across cultures and legal systems. Themes identified by participants may provide a framework for guiding end of life discussions in the intensive care unit.
KW - Communication
KW - End of life
KW - Focus groups
KW - Intensive care unit
KW - Linguistic inquiry
KW - Nurse
KW - Qualitative research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84973541051&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.iccn.2016.04.004
DO - 10.1016/j.iccn.2016.04.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84973541051
VL - 36
SP - 8
EP - 16
JO - Intensive & Critical Care Nursing
JF - Intensive & Critical Care Nursing
SN - 0964-3397
ER -