Alexandra L Terrill1, Lee Ellington2, Kevin K John3, Seth Latimer2, Jiayun Xu4, Maija Reblin5, Margaret F Clayton2. 1. University of Utah, Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies, Salt Lake City, USA. Electronic address: alex.terrill@hsc.utah.edu. 2. University of Utah, College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, USA. 3. Brigham Young University, School of Communication, Provo, USA. 4. Purdue University School of Nursing, West Lafayette, USA. 5. Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Health Outcomes & Behavior, Tampa, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about positive emotion communication (PEC) in end-of-life care. This study aims to identify types and patterns of PEC among hospice nurses, caregivers, and patients. METHODS: A coding system based on positive psychology theory was applied as a secondary analysis to audio recordings of hospice nurse home visits with cancer patients and family caregivers, collected as part of a prospective longitudinal study. Eighty recordings (4 visits from 20 triads) were coded for humor, connection, praise, positive focus, gratitude, taking joy/savoring, and perfunctory statements. RESULTS: Descriptive statistics revealed the greatest proportion of PEC was made by nurses. Humor was most frequently used across all speakers. Cluster analysis revealed four PEC visit types: Savor/Take Joy; Humor; Perfunctory; and Other-focused Expressions of Positive Emotions. Linear mixed effect regression was used to estimate the trajectory of PEC over time, but no significant change was found. CONCLUSION: We found that positive emotions are common in nurse, caregiver and patient communication at end-of-life and do not decline closer to death. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: This study is among the first to explore PEC at end-of-life, and offers a way to bring strengths-based approaches into end of life communication research.
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about positive emotion communication (PEC) in end-of-life care. This study aims to identify types and patterns of PEC among hospice nurses, caregivers, and patients. METHODS: A coding system based on positive psychology theory was applied as a secondary analysis to audio recordings of hospice nurse home visits with cancerpatients and family caregivers, collected as part of a prospective longitudinal study. Eighty recordings (4 visits from 20 triads) were coded for humor, connection, praise, positive focus, gratitude, taking joy/savoring, and perfunctory statements. RESULTS: Descriptive statistics revealed the greatest proportion of PEC was made by nurses. Humor was most frequently used across all speakers. Cluster analysis revealed four PEC visit types: Savor/Take Joy; Humor; Perfunctory; and Other-focused Expressions of Positive Emotions. Linear mixed effect regression was used to estimate the trajectory of PEC over time, but no significant change was found. CONCLUSION: We found that positive emotions are common in nurse, caregiver and patient communication at end-of-life and do not decline closer to death. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: This study is among the first to explore PEC at end-of-life, and offers a way to bring strengths-based approaches into end of life communication research.
Authors: Maija Reblin; Brian R W Baucom; Margaret F Clayton; Rebecca Utz; Michael Caserta; Dale Lund; Kathi Mooney; Lee Ellington Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2019-04-05 Impact factor: 3.894
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