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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| The good and bad death perceptions of health professionals working in palliative care | | Author(s) | Joseph T S Low, Sheila Payne |
| Journal title | European Journal of Cancer Care, vol 5, 1996 |
| Pages | pp 237-241 |
| Keywords | Terminal care ; Medical workers ; Attitude ; Death. |
| Annotation | Palliative care aims to cater for both psycho-social needs and alleviation of physical symptoms of dying patients. This is reflected by the good and bad death perceptions of palliative care workers, though increasing signs of institutionalisation in palliative care have challenged the idealisation of a good death. This study of health professionals' perceptions of a good death depended on controlling patients' physical symptoms and psychologically preparing them, whilst a bad death was perceived as an inability to control pain or deal with any psychological distress. Factor analysis revealed three main factors in the perception of a good death: lack of patient distress; patient control; and staff's supporting role perceptions. Four factors are identified with the perception of a bad death: the negative effects of death on the family; a patient's non-acceptance of death; not dealing with patients' fears; and the age of the dying person. Overall, health professionals perceived themselves to be open and sensitive in communicating with patients, although most respondents felt poorly supported by other staff. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-010606209 A |
| Classmark | LV: QT: DP: CW * |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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