Sedation in palliative care – a critical analysis of 7 years experience

BACKGROUND: The administration of sedatives in terminally ill patients becomes an increasingly feasible medical option in end-of-life care. However, sedation for intractable distress has raised considerable medical and ethical concerns. In our study we provide a critical analysis of seven years experience with the application of sedation in the final phase of life in our palliative care unit. METHODS: Medical records of 548 patients, who died in the Palliative Care Unit of GK Havelhoehe between 1995–2002, were retrospectively analysed with regard to sedation in the last 48 hrs of life. The parameters of investigation included indication, choice and kind of sedation, prevalence of intolerable symptoms, patients' requests for sedation, state of consciousness and communication abilities during sedation. Critical evaluation included a comparison of the period between 1995–1999 and 2000–2002. RESULTS: 14.6% (n = 80) of the patients in palliative care had sedation given by the intravenous route in the last 48 hrs of their life according to internal guidelines. The annual frequency to apply sedation increased continuously from 7% in 1995 to 19% in 2002. Main indications shifted from refractory control of physical symptoms (dyspnoea, gastrointestinal, pain, bleeding and agitated delirium) to more psychological distress (panic-stricken fear, severe depression, refractory insomnia and other forms of affective decompensation). Patients' and relatives' requests for sedation in the final phase were significantly more frequent during the period 2000–2002. CONCLUSION: Sedation in the terminal or final phase of life plays an increasing role in the management of intractable physical and psychological distress. Ethical concerns are raised by patients' requests and needs on the one hand, and the physicians' self-understanding on the other hand. Hence, ethically acceptable criteria and guidelines for the decision making are needed with special regard to the nature of refractory and intolerable symptoms, patients' informed consent and personal needs, the goals and aims of medical sedation in end-of-life care

A Qualitative Study Examining Tensions in Interdoctor Telephone Consultations

OBJECTIVE: Communication skills have gained increasing attention in medical education. Much of the existing literature and medical curricula addresses issues of doctor-patient communication. The critical importance of communication between health professionals, however, is now coming under the spotlight. The interdoctor telephone consultation is a common health care setting in which health professional communication skills are exercised. Breakdowns in this communication commonly occur and, surprisingly, this skill is not formally addressed in medical training. This study sought to clarify the communication issues that can occur during interdoctor telephone consultations in order to inform future educational initiatives in this domain. METHODS: Data were collected and triangulated among 3 sources: documentation of 129 telephone consults received; 51 hours of field observations of consultants, and semi-structured interviews of 12 callers and 12 consultants. Analysis was performed using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Overwhelmingly, participants described tensions with telephone consultation communication. Recurrent theme analysis revealed 5 key sources of tension: discursive features; context; fragmented clinical process; reason for call, and responsibility. Often, callers and consultants viewed similar instances in different and opposite manners, contributing to difficulties in the exchange. Further, a vicious cycle in which a participant\u27s strategies to mitigate tension actually increased tension for the other participant was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Interdoctor telephone consultation has become an integral part of medical practice; however, tensions within this exchange can undermine its effectiveness. The results of this study provide a preliminary theory upon which an educational intervention to improve this communication skill can be based

Making Sense of Grounded Theory in Medical Education

BACKGROUND: Grounded theory is a research methodology designed to develop, through collection and analysis of data that is primarily (but not exclusively) qualitative, a well-integrated set of concepts that provide a theoretical explanation of a social phenomenon. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to provide an introduction to key features of grounded theory methodology within the context of medical education research. OVERVIEW: In this paper we include a discussion of the origins of grounded theory, a description of key methodological processes, a comment on pitfalls encountered commonly in the application of grounded theory research, and a summary of the strengths of grounded theory methodology with illustrations from the medical education domain. DISCUSSION: The significant strengths of grounded theory that have resulted in its enduring prominence in qualitative research include its clearly articulated analytical process and its emphasis on the generation of pragmatic theory that is grounded in the data of experience. When applied properly and thoughtfully, grounded theory can address research questions of significant relevance to the domain of medical education

General practitioners' report of continuous deep sedation until death for patients dying at home: A descriptive study from Belgium

Background: Palliative sedation is increasingly used at the end of life by general practitioners (GPs). Objectives: To study the characteristics of one type of palliative sedation, 'continuous deep sedation until death', for patients dying at home in Belgium. Methods: SENTI-MELC, a large-scale mortality follow-back study of a representative surveillance network of Belgian GPs was conducted in 2005-2006. Out of 415 non-sudden home deaths registered, we identified all 31 cases of continuous deep sedation until death as reported by the GPs. GPs were interviewed face-to-face about patient characteristics, the decision-making process and characteristics of each case. Results: 28 interviews were conducted (response rate 28/31). 19 patients had cancer. 19 patients suffered persistently and unbearably. Pain was the main indication for continuous deep sedation (15 cases). In 6 cases, the patient was competent but was not involved in decision making. Relatives and care providers were involved in 23 cases and 18 cases, respectively. Benzodiazepines were used in 21 cases. During sedation, 11/28 of patients awoke, mostly due to insufficient medication. In 13 cases, the GP partially or explicitly intended to hasten the patient's death. Conclusion: Continuous deep sedation until death, as practiced by Belgian GPs, is in most cases used for patients with unbearable suffering. Competent patients are not always involved in decision making while in most cases, the patient's family is