RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparative study of clinicians’ and family members’ perceptions of patients’ end-of-life experiences
JF BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
JO BMJ Support Palliat Care
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP spcare-2022-003883
DO 10.1136/spcare-2022-003883
A1 Suzuki, Kozue
A1 Morita, Tatsuya
A1 Mori, Masanori
A1 Azuma, Yukari
A1 Funaki, Hiromi
A1 Amano, Koji
A1 Imai, Kengo
A1 Tanaka, Keiko
A1 Kizawa, Yoshiyuki
A1 Tsuneto, Satoru
A1 Shima, Yasuo
A1 Masukawa, Kento
A1 Miyashita, Mitsunori
YR 2022
UL http://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2022/10/11/spcare-2022-003883.abstract
AB Objective End-of-life experiences (ELEs), such as deathbed visions (DBVs), have been reported worldwide. However, ELEs have rarely been discussed in clinical practice, possibly because of the different perceptions of ELEs among clinicians and families. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the differences in perception regarding ELEs, especially DBVs, between clinicians and families.Methods We conducted a multicentre, prospective and observational study with patients with cancer. After the patients’ death, clinicians recorded their perceptions of patients’ ELEs during the palliative care unit admission, and bereaved families responded to a questionnaire about ELEs. The primary outcome was the frequency and concordance of DBVs from the perspective of bereaved family members and clinicians. The second outcome was each group’s frequency of terminal lucidity and terminal coincidence.Results The study included 443 patients. DBVs were reported more frequently by family members than clinicians (14.0% vs 2.7%, p<0.001). Among family members, terminal lucidity and terminal coincidence were observed at 7% and 7.9%, respectively, while only one case each was reported by clinicians.Conclusions Clinicians and family members may perceive ELEs differently. Enabling patients and their families to talk about ELEs would assist in optimising grief care.