Family perspectives on end-of-life care after surgery: A qualitative analysis of the veteran affairs bereaved family surveys.
Am J Surg
; 233: 11-15, 2024 Jul.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38168605
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Using open-text responses from the Bereaved Family Survey (BFS), we sought to explore Veteran family experiences on end-of-life care after surgery.METHODS:
We evaluated 936 open-text responses for all decedents who underwent any high-risk surgical procedure across 124 Veterans Affairs facilities between 2010 and 2019. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.RESULTS:
Respondents expressed a belief in the decedent's unnecessary pain, expressing distrust in the treatment decisions of the care team. Limited communication regarding the severity of disease or risks of surgery caused conflicting and unresolved narratives regarding the cause or timing of death. Respondents described feelings of disempowerment when they were not involved in decision-making and when their wishes were not respected.CONCLUSIONS:
Timely and sensitive conversations, including acknowledging uncertainty in outcomes, may ensure a more positive experience for bereaved families.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cuidado Terminal
/
Aflicción
/
Familia
/
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Tipo de estudio:
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Surg
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article