Thoughts on the end of life in patients with oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A qualitative interview study.
Lisa Skär, Christel Borg, Margareta Emtner and 1 others
PMID 36334046WHAT IT FOUND
Patients on long-term oxygen for COPD want clinicians to initiate end-of-life discussions, as they find it too difficult to raise these topics themselves.
They fear dying alone and worry about burdening family, seeking reassurance that their loved ones are supported.
Key findings
01Participants stated that healthcare professionals should take responsibility for initiating end-of-life discussions, as patients find it easier to reject an invitation than to start the conversation themselves.
02A primary source of anxiety was the fear of dying alone, particularly for those without close relatives, who requested someone to monitor them.
03Participants expressed conflicting feelings: they wanted to die peacefully with family present but also feared being a burden to them.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used a small, purposeful sample from two centres in Sweden, which limits transferability to other populations. Participants were recruited by the clinical team, which may have influenced willingness to discuss sensitive topics despite assurances of voluntariness. The study reports patient perceptions and wishes; it does not measure whether initiating these discussions actually improved outcomes or reduced anxiety.
Declared interests
No funding sources or conflicts of interest are declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients who do not raise end-of-life issues are content or unanxious. The study found that patients actively wanted clinicians to initiate these conversations because they found it difficult to do so themselves.