Jenny T van der Steen1, Luc Deliens2, Raymond T C M Koopmans3, Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen4. 1. Department of Public Health and Primary Care,Leiden University Medical Center,Leiden,the Netherlands. 2. End-of-Life Care Research Group,Vrije Universiteit Brussels and Ghent University,Brussels,Belgium. 3. Department of Primary and Community Care,Radboud university medical center,Nijmegen,the Netherlands. 4. VU University Medical Center,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,Department of Public and Occupational Health,Expertise Center of Palliative Care,Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe physicians' perceptions of the suffering of their patients who are dying with dementia, many of whom are incompetent with regard to decision making and have difficulty with communicating about the source of their distress and with identifying related factors. METHOD: We analyzed data from the nationally representative observational Dutch End-of-Life in Dementia (DEOLD) cohort study (2007-2011), which involved 34 long-term care facilities. A total of 103 physicians completed questionnaires about 330 patients with dementia who had died in a participating facility. Suffering during the last six hours of life was defined as "a patient being disturbed by or aware of symptoms," "suffering until the end or death was a struggle"-all related to objective indicators of lack of comfort. We employed generalized estimating equation models to assess associations of suffering with the characteristics of physicians and patients, the patient's death, and the decision-making process. RESULTS: In 13.8% of cases, the physician felt that the patient had suffered. An unexpected death and death with pneumonia were strongly (an odds ratios close to 6) associated with suffering, and suffering was also independently associated with the physician's perception of worse quality of end-of-life care, death with cardiovascular disease, a less experienced physician, no palliative sedation, and a younger patient. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Most patients with dementia did not suffer during their final hours of life, according to their physicians. There are a number of factors associated with suffering, among them death with pneumonia and unexpected death. We may not be able to have much influence on death from pneumonia, but quality of care and an unexpected death are reasonable targets for intervention. Earlier identification of the beginning of the dying process would allow time to better prepare for approaching death, which would provide a source of comfort.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe physicians' perceptions of the suffering of their patients who are dying with dementia, many of whom are incompetent with regard to decision making and have difficulty with communicating about the source of their distress and with identifying related factors. METHOD: We analyzed data from the nationally representative observational Dutch End-of-Life in Dementia (DEOLD) cohort study (2007-2011), which involved 34 long-term care facilities. A total of 103 physicians completed questionnaires about 330 patients with dementia who had died in a participating facility. Suffering during the last six hours of life was defined as "a patient being disturbed by or aware of symptoms," "suffering until the end or death was a struggle"-all related to objective indicators of lack of comfort. We employed generalized estimating equation models to assess associations of suffering with the characteristics of physicians and patients, the patient's death, and the decision-making process. RESULTS: In 13.8% of cases, the physician felt that the patient had suffered. An unexpected death and death with pneumonia were strongly (an odds ratios close to 6) associated with suffering, and suffering was also independently associated with the physician's perception of worse quality of end-of-life care, death with cardiovascular disease, a less experienced physician, no palliative sedation, and a younger patient. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Most patients with dementia did not suffer during their final hours of life, according to their physicians. There are a number of factors associated with suffering, among them death with pneumonia and unexpected death. We may not be able to have much influence on death from pneumonia, but quality of care and an unexpected death are reasonable targets for intervention. Earlier identification of the beginning of the dying process would allow time to better prepare for approaching death, which would provide a source of comfort.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dementia; End of life; Nursing homes; Palliative care; Quality of life
Authors: Andrea Jutta Loizeau; Simon M Cohen; Susan L Mitchell; Nathan Theill; Stefanie Eicher; Mike Martin; Florian Riese Journal: Neurodegener Dis Date: 2019-04-23 Impact factor: 2.977
Authors: Shelley A Sternberg; Shiri Shinan-Altman; Ladislav Volicer; David J Casarett; Jenny T van der Steen Journal: Geriatrics (Basel) Date: 2021-04-22
Authors: T P Zomer; T VAN DER Maaden; A B VAN Gageldonk-Lafeber; S C DE Greeff; J T VAN DER Steen; L Verhoef Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2017-07-03 Impact factor: 4.434
Authors: Jenny T van der Steen; Natashe Lemos Dekker; Marie-José H E Gijsberts; Laura H Vermeulen; Margje M Mahler; B Anne-Mei The Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2017-04-28 Impact factor: 3.234
Authors: Elizabeth L Sampson; Bridget Candy; Sarah Davis; Anna Buylova Gola; Jane Harrington; Michael King; Nuriye Kupeli; Gerry Leavey; Kirsten Moore; Irwin Nazareth; Rumana Z Omar; Victoria Vickerstaff; Louise Jones Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2017-09-18 Impact factor: 4.762
Authors: Maartje S Klapwijk; Sascha R Bolt; Jannie A Boogaard; Maud Ten Koppel; Marie-José He Gijsberts; Carolien van Leussen; B Anne-Mei The; Judith Mm Meijers; Jos Mga Schols; H Roeline W Pasman; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen; Luc Deliens; Lieve Van den Block; Bart Mertens; Henrica Cw de Vet; Monique Aa Caljouw; Wilco P Achterberg; Jenny T van der Steen Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2021-08-28 Impact factor: 4.762