TY - JOUR
T1 - Family perceptions of worry, symptoms, and suffering in the dying
AU - Hickman, Susan E.
AU - Tilden, Virginia P.
AU - Tolle, Susan W.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - In this exploratory study, family members of 63 decedents were interviewed by telephone, two to five months post-death, about their perceptions of their loved one's worries, symptoms, and suffering at the end of life. The most common worries reported focused on loss of bodily function (44%), being dependent (40%), and being a burden (39%). Distressing physical and psychological symptoms were reported. A majority (94%) of family members reported that their loved one suffered at the end of life, but only worries about loss of quality of life (e.g., being unable to participate in enjoyable activities) were predictive of reports of suffering. Findings suggest that worries, irrespective of the level of current symptoms, play an important role in the suffering of dying patients, and that treatment plans for the terminally ill should routinely explore both symptoms and worries.
AB - In this exploratory study, family members of 63 decedents were interviewed by telephone, two to five months post-death, about their perceptions of their loved one's worries, symptoms, and suffering at the end of life. The most common worries reported focused on loss of bodily function (44%), being dependent (40%), and being a burden (39%). Distressing physical and psychological symptoms were reported. A majority (94%) of family members reported that their loved one suffered at the end of life, but only worries about loss of quality of life (e.g., being unable to participate in enjoyable activities) were predictive of reports of suffering. Findings suggest that worries, irrespective of the level of current symptoms, play an important role in the suffering of dying patients, and that treatment plans for the terminally ill should routinely explore both symptoms and worries.
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U2 - 10.1177/082585970402000105
DO - 10.1177/082585970402000105
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15132072
AN - SCOPUS:2442675196
SN - 0825-8597
VL - 20
SP - 20
EP - 27
JO - Journal of palliative care
JF - Journal of palliative care
IS - 1
ER -