Lomero-Martínez MM, Jiménez-Herrera MF, Bodí-Saera MA, Llauradó-Serra M, Masnou-Burrallo N, Oliver-Juan E, Sandiumenge-Camps A. Decision-making in end of life care. Are we really playing together in the same team?
ENFERMERIA INTENSIVA 2018;
29:158-167. [PMID:
29785938 DOI:
10.1016/j.enfi.2018.01.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is increasingly common in critical care units, and controlled donation after circulatory death is starting to be included as an option within patient care plans. Lack of knowledge and misunderstandings can place a barrier between healthcare professionals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses working in intensive care units regarding Limitation of life-sustaining treatment and controlled donation after circulatory death.
DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS
Cross-sectional study carried out in 13 Spanish hospitals by means of an ad hoc questionnaire.
METHODS
Contingency tables, Pearson's chi-squared test, Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney u-test were used to carry out descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses of responses.
RESULTS
Although Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is a widespread practice, the survey revealed that nurses feel excluded from the development of protocols and the decision-making process, whilst the perception of physicians is that they have greater knowledge of the topic, and decisions are reached in consensus.
CONCLUSIONS
Multi-disciplinary training programmes can help critical healthcare providers to work together with greater coordination, thus benefitting patients and their next of kin by providing excellent end-of-life care.
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