Back to Search
Start Over
Quality of dying among elderly people diagnosed with dementia in nursing homes: A mixed methods study.
- Source :
- Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.); Jun2023, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p435-450, 16p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject: Nurses working at nursing homes can play a pivotal role in mental health as a high proportion of residents diagnosed with dementia are in these facilities.Many institutionalized residents diagnosed with dementia develop clinical complications and symptoms that reduce the quality of dying.A mixed‐methods approach can help nurses with the difficult task of assessing the quality of dying among these residents and identify inconsistencies that cannot be found using scales alone, but no studies were found in this topic. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: Through the Quality of dying in Long‐Term Care Scale (QoD‐LTC), nurses described symptom management, quality of care, and end‐of‐life appearance as adequate and end‐of‐life communication as lacking.Generally speaking, the scores on the scale were consistent with the data from semi‐structured interviews conducted with nurses.In the semi‐structured interviews, some of the concepts on the scale, including 'dignity', 'holistic' care, 'good relationships with healthcare professionals', and 'a peaceful death', are complex and not fully incorporated into nurses' practice in nursing homes when assessing residents diagnosed with dementia. This could be improved by using the SENSES Model or person‐centred care frameworks. What are the implications for practice?: There is evidence of shortcomings among professionals in the correct use of concepts linked to psychological wellbeing, communication, therapeutic relationship, safety and participation, preservation of dignity, decision‐making, and resident autonomy, which can be addressed using specific theoretical approaches developed in the field of mental health nursing. Introduction: The complex nature of end‐of‐life assessment of individuals diagnosed with dementia would benefit from a mixed‐methods approach that simultaneously assess the perception and response of nurses to standardized tools. Aim/Question: To examine nursing professionals' perceptions of the quality of dying among residents diagnosed with dementia using the Quality of Dying in Long‐Term Care settings (QoD‐LTC) questionnaire and to identify consistencies and inconsistencies in their narratives. Method: Mixed‐methods study using concurrent triangulation with data integration for results and interpretation. Nurses from eight nursing homes assessed 117 residents diagnosed with dementia who died in the previous 3 months using the QoD‐LTC scale. After informed consent was obtained (nurses/caregivers), 17 semi‐structured scale‐based interviews were conducted. Results: Symptom management, quality of care, and end‐of‐life appearance were found to be adequate, while end‐of‐life communication was deemed insufficient. The qualitative and quantitative data were consistent for most of the items on the QoD‐LTC. Discussion: Concepts such as dignity, holistic care, good relationships, and peaceful death are complex and not fully incorporated into professional practice. Implications for Practice: The results highlight the need for greater involvement of mental health nurses as well as improved communication, training, and specific tools tailored to residents diagnosed with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- NURSING audit
MEDICAL quality control
PALLIATIVE care nursing
NURSES' attitudes
CAREGIVERS
TERMINAL care
WIT & humor
NURSING home patients
RESEARCH methodology
TERMINALLY ill
INTERVIEWING
VISUAL analog scale
HYGIENE
NURSING care facilities
DEMENTIA patients
HOLISTIC medicine
PATIENTS' attitudes
DEMENTIA
PSYCHOSOCIAL factors
QUESTIONNAIRES
HOSPITAL nursing staff
COMMUNICATION
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
DECISION making
RESEARCH funding
DIGNITY
PATIENT-professional relations
DATA analysis software
INTERMENT
ATTITUDES toward death
LONG-term health care
PAIN management
PROXY
OLD age
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13510126
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 163588988
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12871