B J Davison1, L F Degner. 1. Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To review factors in the health care culture that deny seriously ill patients' last wishes regarding care. DATA SOURCES: Review articles and research studies that pertain to decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making in palliative care has been identified as an understudied area. Although there are significant benefits to being involved in treatment decision making, long-term follow-up of the consequences of active participation in the final stages of life is lacking. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses have a role to play in assisting patients and their families in treatment decision making in both the curative and palliative phase of care. A nursing intervention to promote patient involvement in decision making is described.
OBJECTIVES: To review factors in the health care culture that deny seriously ill patients' last wishes regarding care. DATA SOURCES: Review articles and research studies that pertain to decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making in palliative care has been identified as an understudied area. Although there are significant benefits to being involved in treatment decision making, long-term follow-up of the consequences of active participation in the final stages of life is lacking. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses have a role to play in assisting patients and their families in treatment decision making in both the curative and palliative phase of care. A nursing intervention to promote patient involvement in decision making is described.