The present research aims to explore the experiences of health professionals dealing with the end of life. A qualitative study involving 37 health professionals of surgical, medical, intensive care units, hospice and home services of Northern Italy was conducted using focus groups to collect data and Grounded Theory to analyse them. A lack of organisation and communication with the dying persons and their families emerged from the discussion within the four groups. A difficulty emerged in defining a good death underlying the ethical dilemmas, which involve places to die, palliative care and end-of-life decision making. Care at the end of life remains a neglected topic within the health care services with a subsequent sufferance on the part of the health professionals. It needs to be placed at the centre of research and health system organisation.
End of life: Professional care providers’ narrations
CIPOLLETTA, SABRINA;
2011
Abstract
The present research aims to explore the experiences of health professionals dealing with the end of life. A qualitative study involving 37 health professionals of surgical, medical, intensive care units, hospice and home services of Northern Italy was conducted using focus groups to collect data and Grounded Theory to analyse them. A lack of organisation and communication with the dying persons and their families emerged from the discussion within the four groups. A difficulty emerged in defining a good death underlying the ethical dilemmas, which involve places to die, palliative care and end-of-life decision making. Care at the end of life remains a neglected topic within the health care services with a subsequent sufferance on the part of the health professionals. It needs to be placed at the centre of research and health system organisation.
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