Healthcare teams can implement care initiatives to promote a positive dying experience. However, there is a lack of knowledge related to how best to care for dying patients. Nurses do not receive extensive training in nursing school to care for patients at the end of life, yet most, at some point in their careers, experience the provision of this type of care. It is important to ensure that nurses caring for dying patients have been educated about end-of-life care. The purpose of the quality improvement project was to address the lack of end-of-life care education among critical care nurses in an acute care hospital by implementing and testing the effectiveness of an end-of-life care educational program. Kolcaba's theory of comfort was chosen as the theoretical framework for the project. Registered nurses (n = 34) employed on a critical care unit participated in the one-group pretest/posttest design project. The nurses completed the Healthstream online end-of-life care education, and knowledge improvement was determined through comparison of pretest and posttest scores. Descriptive tests were completed to determine the mean score. The descriptive data analysis and tests showed that participants' level of end-of-life care knowledge improved after they completed the formalized educational program. Participants' scores increased from pretest (68% to 100% correct answers) to posttest (93% to 100% correct answers). The primary populations benefiting from the project are nurses, dying patients, and family members of dying patients. The social change implication of the findings is that if nurses receive education on end-of-life nursing, increased knowledge of appropriate care for dying patients is expected.

Background: Death is a common occurrence in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and the circumstances surrounding a patient’s death can have a lasting influence on the wellbeing of families and nursing staff alike. Culture is an important influence on an individual’s perspective of end-of-life (EOL) care and a ‘good death’, and, as such, cultural sensitivity is an essential element of high quality EOL care in the ICU. Nurses are well situated to facilitate culturally sensitive EOL care within the ICU; however, there is a significant paucity of knowledge regarding ICU nurses’ perceptions of a culturally sensitive EOL nursing practice and their experiences delivering this within an adult ICU. Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore ICU nurses’ perceptions of delivering culturally sensitive care within their current EOL practice, and thus better understand how culturally sensitive EOL care can be supported within adult ICUs. Design and Methods: An Interpretive Description methodology was utilized to explore the perceptions of seven (n=7) Canadian ICU nurses regarding culturally sensitive EOL care. Maximum variation and theoretical sampling were used to recruit registered nurses from ICUs in two hospitals in Southern Ontario, Canada. Data were generated using semi-structured interviews and field notes and was concurrently analyzed using a constant comparative and reflexive approach. Study rigour was supported through the use of reflexive journaling/memoing, data triangulation, and peer debriefing. Results: Analysis of the data led to the construction of three themes which described nurses’ perceptions of providing EOL care within the ICU: 1) culturally sensitive EOL care is truly person-centered care, 2) dissonance between culturally sensitive EOL care and the biomedical model of care in the ICU, and 3) needing support to adopt a more relational approach to care in the ICU. Conclusion and Implications: Study findings highlight that ICU nurses perceive that culturally sensitive EOL care primarily involves building a strong therapeutic relationship and being truly person-centered when delivering care. However, the context surrounding nursing practice in the ICU creates many barriers to adopting this relational approach to care; thus, multifaceted support is needed for culturally sensitive EOL nursing practice to be bolstered and sustained. / Thesis / Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) / Patients in the Intensive Care Unit frequently die and the circumstances surrounding these deaths affects both family members’ and nurses’ wellbeing. Culture is an important influence on an individual’s needs during the end-of-life period and on their views about a ‘good death’. As such, when caring for dying patients, healthcare professionals need to be sensitive to the culture of each patient and family. In the Intensive Care Unit, nurses play an important role in making sure end-of-life care is culturally sensitive. The goal of this study was to learn more about nurses’ perceptions and experiences of providing culturally sensitive end-of-life care within adult Intensive Care Units. This study found that nurses working in Intensive Care Units feel culturally sensitive end-of-life care mainly involves being truly person-centered and this requires staying open-minded and building strong relationships with patients and their families. Nurses in this study also indicated that they face many obstacles when trying to be culturally sensitivity during end-of-life care and some of these were created by their practice environment. This research shows that if nurses are to deliver culturally sensitive end-of-life care within critical care settings they need significant support in various forms, which likely includes a change in the unit culture.

Zusammenfassung: Laut Robert Koch-Institut wird in den kommenden Jahren die Anzahl der Menschen, die an Pankreaskarzinom erkranken werden, zunehmen. Dies hängt vor allem mit unseren Lebensbedingungen und dem zunehmendem Älterwerden der Gesellschaft zusammen. Die Diagnose und Therapie von Pankreastumoren stellt einen erheblichen Einschnitt in die Lebensqualität der Patienten dar, ver- bunden mit einer hohen Symptombelastung. Ziel vorliegender retrospektiver Studie war es, die Versorgung am Lebensende von Patienten mit fortgeschrittenem oder metastasiertem Pankreaskarzinom anhand von Qualitätsindikatoren nach Craig C. Earle zu überprüfen und daraus optimierte Entscheidungsalgorithmen zu generieren. Hierzu untersuchten wir die Daten von insgesamt 202 Patienten. Zur Beantwortung der Fragestellung diente ein dafür erstellter Dokumentationsbogen, mit dem die Daten erhoben wurden. Das Patientenkollektiv teilte sich auf in Patienten, die im Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) des Uniklinikums Würzburg in den Jahren von 2010 bis 2014 vorstellig wurden und Patienten, die am Klinikum Magdeburg in den Jahren 2005 bis 2014 behandelt wurden. Wir unterteilten das Patientengut zusätzlich in 132 primär metastasierte Primärfälle (UICC-Stadium IV) und in 53 Rezidivfälle (UICC-Stadium I-IV). Ebenso verglichen wir die Gruppen mit und ohne Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten. Das Patientenkollektiv setzte sich aus 74 Frauen und 126 Männern zusammen (bei zwei Fällen fehlte die Geschlechtsangabe) mit einem durchschnittlichen Alter von 68,8 Jahren zum Zeitpunkt der Diagnose. Der Allgemeinzustand wurde mit dem Karnofsky-Index erfasst und lag bei den meisten Patienten zum Diagnosezeitpunkt bei 90 oder 100. Die meisten Patienten befanden sich schon in einem fortgeschrittenen Zustand der Erkrankung, welches sich an der hohen Anzahl des UICC-Stadium IV erkennen lässt (n = 132). 42,1 % (n = 85) der Patienten hatten Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten. Der überwiegende Teil der Patienten hatte mehr als 3 Tage vor Tod Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten (77,7 %). Es war uns nicht möglich einen statistisch signifikanten Zusammenhang zwischen tumorspezifischer Therapie (Chemotherapie und / oder Bestrahlung) in den letzten 14 Lebenstagen und SPV-Kontakt < 3 Tagen herzustellen. Der Grund war die geringe Anzahl der Fälle. Es gab keinen Patient, der unter 3 Tagen Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten hatte und bestrahlt wurde. Lediglich ein Patient erhielt noch eine Chemotherapie. Bei Patienten, die keinen Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten hatten, erhielten immerhin sechs noch eine Chemotherapie und fünf eine Bestrahlung in den letzten 14 Lebenstagen. Die Hauptbeschwerden im Palliativkonsil, die von den Patienten aus Würzburg genannt wurden, bezogen sich hauptsächlich auf körperliche Beschwerden, wie z. B. Müdigkeit, Verschlechterung des Allgemeinzustandes, Schlafstörungen und Fieber. Gefolgt von Depressionen, Angst, Sorgen und Problemen mit der Nahrungsaufnahme, Appetitstörungen, Übelkeit sowie Erbrechen. Die häufigsten Probleme und Komplikationen in den letzten 6 Monaten bis 30 Tagen vor Tod waren bei den Würzburger Patienten mit Palliativkonsil das Auftreten eines Verschlußikterus`, Veränderung des Blutbildes oder Anämie, gefolgt von Ileus, Übelkeit oder Erbrechen und Peritonealkarzinose mit symptomatischem Aszites. In den letzten 30 Tagen vor Tod beliefen sich die häufigsten Komplikationen der Würzburger Patienten auf Nieren- und Leberversagen, urämisches Koma, metabolische Azidose, Blutungen, Ileus, Übelkeit oder Erbrechen und Peritonealkarzinose mit symptomatischem Aszites. Eine Patientenverfügung besaßen 54,4 % der Würzburger Patienten mit Palliativkonsil. Bei den Würzburger Patienten ohne Palliativkonsil waren es 50,0 %. Eine Vorsorgevollmacht oder das Vorliegen eines Notfallplans gab es nur in ganz wenigen Fällen. Ein großer Anteil der Patienten hatte einen Aufenthalt in der Notaufnahme in den letzten 6 Monaten vor Tod. Bei zwei und mehr Aufenthalten sank die Anzahl stark ab. Gleiches gilt für die Aufenthalte in der Notaufnahme oder auf der Intensivstation in den letzten 30 Lebenstagen. Bei der Datenerhebung wurde nicht differenziert, ob der Aufenthalt vor oder nach der 1. Kontaktaufnahme zustande. Es wurde nur die Tatsache festgehalten, dass ein Kontakt bestand. Dies bedeutet, dass nicht heraus zu lesen ist, inwieweit die Palliativmedizin in diese Entscheidung mit einbezogen wurde. Die geschätzte mediane Überlebenszeit des Würzburger Patientenkollektivs betrug 6,9 Monate. In den Jahren 2010 und 2011 zusammen genommen lag die mediane Überlebenszeit bei 6,2 Monaten. Nach Gründung des palliativmedizinischen Dienstes (PMD) an der Uniklinik Würzburg lag im Jahr 2012 und 2013 zusammen genommen die mediane Überlebenszeit bei 8,3 Monaten. Die Frauen überlebten die Männer um 2,7 Monate. Die Patienten mit Palliativkonsil überlebten die Patienten ohne Palliativkonsil um zwei Monate. Bereits nach 12 Monaten waren sowohl bei den Patienten mit und ohne Palliativkonsil in unserer Studie über die Hälfte verstorben. Nach 24 Monaten lebten vom Würzburger Patientenkollektiv nur noch fünf Patienten. Die Kriterien von Craig C. Earle sind nicht überall erreicht worden. Die Anzahl der Patienten mit Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten könnte höher sein (42,1 %). Die Anzahl der Patienten, die weniger als 3 Tage vor Tod Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten hatten, ist erfreulich niedrig (8,2 %). Die Anzahl der Fälle, in denen die Umstellung oder der Start einer neuen tumorspezifischen Therapie in den letzten 30 Lebenstagen stattfand, ist noch viel zu hoch (7,1 %). Hier wurden die Vorgaben von Craig C. Earle um ein vierfaches überstiegen bei den Patienten mit Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten. Bei der tumorspezifischen Therapie in den letzten 14 Lebenstagen lag die Anzahl der Patienten mit Kontakt zu Palliativangeboten auch wieder erfreulich niedrig (4,7 % für Chemotherapie; 1,2 % für Bestrahlung). Grundsätzlich lässt sich durch das kleine Patientenkollektiv keine endgültige Aussage in dieser Studie bezüglich der Effektivität der palliativen Versorgung treffen. In der vorliegenden Studie konnten zum Teil keine statistische Signifikanz nachgewiesen werden. In Zusammenschau aller Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigt sich, dass die Therapie am Lebensende immer wieder neu evaluiert und an die sich verändernde Situation angepasst werden muss. Maßnahmen zur Linderung von erwarteten Symptome oder Komplikationen sollten im Vorfeld besprochen werden. Dies bedeu- tet, dass bei der Therapiewahl verschiedene klinische Parameter und jeder Patient individuell berücksichtigt werden sollte. Nach wie vor stellt sich die Herausforderung, die Lebensqualität der Tumorpatienten objektivierbar zu machen. Auch hier zeigt sich in der Literatur, dass das rechtzeitige Miteinbeziehen der Palliativmedizin viele Vorteile mit sich bringt. Es zeigt sich häufig eine kürzere Hospitalisationsrate, bessere Linderung der Symptome, eine Kosteneffizienz, eine Verlängerung der Überlebenszeit und eine verminderte Stressbelastung auch bei Hinterbliebenen. Um festzustellen, an welchen Stellen Qualitätsverbesserungsmaßnahmen nötig sind, kann ein Vergleich der tatsächlichen Qualität (Ist-Werte) mit den Soll-Vorgaben Hinweise im klinischen Alltag geben. Hierzu könnte ein systematisches Belastungs- und Symptomscreening dienen, um die richtigen Patienten zum passenden Zeitpunkt zu identifizieren. Moderne Palliativmedizin umfasst somit nicht nur die Versorgung unheilbar kranker Menschen am Lebensende, sondern kann zunehmend als wichtiger Aspekt auch in der interdisziplinären Versorgung verstanden werden. / In the next years the Robert-Koch-Institute asserted that the amount of persons, who will get the diagnosis pancreastumour, will constantly grow. One reason ist the fact that peolpe getting older and there are more and more general living conditions who can cause cancer. The diagnosis and therapy for patients with pancreastumours implies a big break in the quality of life , coherent with a big symptom burden. The aim of this clinical retrospective trial was to examine the provision of end-of-life care on the basis of quality indicators initiated from Craig C. Earle for patients with advanced and metastasized pancreastumours. Additionally we tried to generate optimated decisions-algorithm from the results. We used an questionary to examine 202 patients. The collective was divided in two parts. One part was registered in the CCC in Würzburg (Comprehensive Cancer Center) from 2010 to 2014 and the other part was registered at the university-hospital in Magdeburg from 2005 to 2014. Next we subdivided 132 primary metastasized cases (UICC-stage IV) and 53 relapses (UICC-stage I-IV). We also compared the groups with and without contact to palliative-medicine. The collective contained 74 women and 126 men and a mean age of 68,8 at time of diagnosis. The Karnofsky-Index was 90 or 100 by most of the patients. The majority had UICC-stage IV (n = 132). 42,1 % (n = 85) had contact to palliative-medicine. Most of the patients had contact earlier than 3 days before death (77,7 %). It was not possible to establish statistical significance between tumourspecific therapy (chemotherapy or radiation) in the last 14 days before death and contact to palliative-medicine 3 days before death because the sample was too small. Neither one of the patients got radiation and had contact to palliative-medicine 3 days before death. Only one patient received chemotherapy and had contact to palliative-medicine. Patients without contact to palliative-medicine had more tumourspecific therapy (chemotherapy: n = 6; radiation: n = 5) in the last 14 days before death. The examined patients from Würzburg mentioned mostly symptom burdens such as fatigue, degradation of the general condition, sleep disturbance or temperature. Followed from depression, fear, trouble and disturbance with having meal, nausea and vomiting. Most of the patients from Würzburg with contact to palliative-medicine had problems and complications such as icterus, anemia and transformation in the hemogram, followed by ileus, nausea or vomiting, peritonealcarcinosis and symptomatic ascites in the time period from last 6 month until 30 days before death. In the last 30 days before death most of the problems and complications from patients with contact to palliative-medicine in Würzburg were kidney- and liver failure, uramic coma, metabolic acidosis, bleedings, ileus, nausea or vomiting and peritonealcarnosis with symptomatic ascites. 54,4 % of the patients from Würzburg with contact to palliative-medicine and 50,0 % of the patients from Würzburg without contact to palliative-medicine had an advance directives. Only a small number of patients had a health care proxy or an emergeny plan. The majority of the patients had one stop in the emergeny ward in the last 6 month of life. The quantity of patients subsided strongly with two or more stops. We observed the same development in the last 30 days before death with stop in the emergency ward or intensive care unit. It was not able to differntiate if the stop in the emergency ward or intensive care unit was before or after the first contact with palliative-medicine. We only stated the fact that there was a contact. This implies that it was not really possible to recognize in what way the palliative-medicine was able to take influence on this decision. The estimated median survival time of the patients in Würzburg was 6,9 month. In the years 2010 and 2011 together, the median survival time was 6,2 month. After establishing the palliative-medicine-service at the university hospital in Würzburg in the year 2012, the median survival time for the patients from Würzburg was 8,3 month for the years 2012 and 2013. Women lived 2,7 month longer than men in the collective. Patients with contact to palliative-medicine lived two month more than patients without contact to palliative-medicine. 12 month after getting the diagnosis more than half of both groups were not alive. After 24 month only five patients from Würzburg were alive. The criterions from Craig C. Earle were not been fully reached. The amount of patients with contact to palliative-medicine could be more (42,1 %). It is enjoyable that the quantity of patients with contact to palliative-medicine less than 3 days before death is low (8,2 %). The rate of changing or starting a new regimen of tumourspecific therapy in the last 30 days of life is still too high (7,1 %). In this case the standard formulated through Craig C. Earle shows multiple oversteppings in the group with patients who had contact to palliative-medicine. Tumorspecific therapy in the last 14 days of life in the group of patients with contact to palliative-medicine was really low (4,7 % chemotherapy; 1,2 % radiation). Generally because of the small sample there is no possibilty to a final statement related to the effectiveness of palliative-medicine in this trial. For the most part it was not able to show statistic significance. In final reflection of all findings in this work, one can assume that the therapy at the end of life has to be evaluated and adapted to every new situation. Previously the procedure of palliation of complications or symptoms has to be discussed. Respectively by choosing the therapy every patient should bei regarded and respected as an individual connected to different clinical parameters. There is still the defiance to objectify the quality of life from patients who have cancer. The literature shows that the early integration of palliative-medicine stores a lot of advantages. Palliative-medicine often is related with a lower rate of hospitality, better handling of symptom burden, lower costs, prolongation of survival time and a reduced stress load for the bereaved. To get a comparison between quality indicators and to identify fields to improve in daily clinical business, one has to relate the actual value with the given value. Therefore a systematic screening of burdens and symptoms could be useful, to identify the right patient at the right moment with the best provision. Modern palliative-medicine should not only put a focus on care with patients who are uncurable ill at the end of life. No, palliative-medicine should be seen as an important aspect of interdisciplinary care.

Nursing ethics in end-of-life care is often framed in reference to dramatic moral dilemmas and resulting moral distress that nurses experience in practice. While important, this framing obscures the moral significance of nurses’ everyday practice. The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ moral experiences of palliative and end-of-life care, including situations that are enriching. The research question was: What are the moral experiences of nurses engaged in ethically meaningful situations in end-of-life care? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five nurses from across Canada who practice in settings where palliative and/or end-of-life care are an important part of their role. Informed by interpretive description and a theoretical scaffold about nurses’ moral practice, a descriptive and thematic analysis of the data was performed. The participants described ethical challenges relating to patient autonomy, futility, prognostication, and navigating requests for medical assistance in dying. Experiences that were ethically enriching involved situations where the nurse, patient, and family worked together to create a peaceful and dignified death. Taken together, the participants’ narratives revealed them as morally engaged in their everyday practice, where such moral engagement is both reflective and relational. This study expands understanding about how nurses’ stories of end-of-life care reveal their capacity for moral sensitivity. This study also contributes to the articulation of a theoretical lens for examining the moral dimensions of nursing work. By explicating the relational dimensions of ethically meaningful experiences, including relationships with wider structures that facilitate and constrain the possibility for ethical action, this theoretical lens can support researchers to think creatively about palliative and end-of-life nursing from an explicitly ethical perspective.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(社会健康医学) / 甲第24291号 / 社医博第127号 / 新制||社医||12(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科社会健康医学系専攻 / (主査)教授 古川 壽亮, 教授 髙橋 良輔, 教授 阪上 優 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Public Health / Kyoto University / DFAM

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This study focuses on understanding the experiences of bereaved South Asian family caregivers living in Canada. Findings suggest that South Asian caregivers face several challenges and that there is a need for a more culturally sensitive palliative approach to care. / The South Asian population faces several challenges when receiving palliative care, including language barriers, unawareness of resources, and poor cultural awareness among health care providers (HCP). However, little is known about the needs of South Asian family caregivers in Canada. The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of bereaved South Asian informal caregivers, who cared for a family member in their last year of life. An interpretive descriptive design was used. Eleven participants were recruited by referral through a community hospice and a community health centre. Participants were South Asian informal caregivers and at least two months bereaved. Audio-recorded one-on-one interviews were conducted followed by a thematic analysis of the transcripts. Five themes were identified to describe the experience of bereaved South Asian informal caregivers: transforming perceptions of life and death, the influence of culture on the experience; the challenges of being a caregiver; coping with the challenges of care-giving; and getting support. Caregivers expressed feeling a sense of duty to their family members and were reluctant to utilize long-term care homes or hospices. The perceived hierarchy of HCP roles also affected their experience. In reflecting on their experiences, caregivers had a deeper appreciation for life and were more willing to talk about death and dying. The experience of South Asian family caregivers is complex with several underlying cultural influences. This study has important implications in improving the delivery of culturally sensitive palliative care and developing supports that address the challenges experienced by caregivers in the South Asian community. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The South Asian community faces many challenges when receiving palliative care, including language barriers and health care providers (HCP) who do not understand the South Asian culture. However, little is known about the needs and experiences of South Asian family caregivers. In this study, South Asian caregivers of family members who recently died described their experience of being a family caregiver. Caregivers had a strong sense of duty to their family members and were against moving their family members into long-term care homes or hospices. Their understanding and views of HCPs’ roles affected their experiences. Caregivers also had more appreciation for life and wanted to talk about their wishes for their own death with their family members. The findings of this study can help improve the delivery of palliative care for the South Asian community and can help HCPs better support their South Asian patients and families.

Background. The consensus among Canadians with regards to end-of-life preferences is that with adequate support the majority prefer to live and die at home. Purpose. To compare quality indicator (QI) rates for home care clients receiving palliative and end-of-life care prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A retrospective population-based cohort design was used. Sixteen QIs informed by existing literature and a preliminary set of QIs recently evaluated by a modified Delphi panel were compared. Data were obtained from the over 280-item interRAI PC instrument for Ontario home care clients for two separate cohorts: the pre-COVID (January 14th, 2019 to March 16th, 2020) and COVID cohort (March 17th, 2020 to May 18th, 2021). A propensity score analysis was used to match on 21 covariates, resulting in a sample size of 2479 unique interRAI PC assessments per cohort. Alternative propensity score methods were explored as part of a sensitivity analysis. Results. After matching the pre-COVID and COVID cohorts (using nearest neighbour matching), five of the 16 QIs had statistically-significant differences in the QI rates. The two alternative propensity score methods produced slightly different results with fewer statistically-significant differences between the cohorts. However, in examining the effect sizes, the results of all propensity score methods were found to be not clinically meaningful. High rates of the prevalence of shortness of breath with activity, no advance directives, and fatigue were observed in both cohorts and across all three propensity score methods. Discussion. This study is the first to examine differences in QI rates for home care clients receiving palliative and end-of-life care before and during COVID in Ontario. Key limitations in interpreting the results include a limited understanding of the typical variation in QI rates over time and reliance on the comparison of a single proportion (the QI) in judging potential differences in quality. Importantly, a strength of this study was that these QIs focused on outcomes of care and were mainly symptom-focused as aspects of high-quality care valued by home care clients and families and in contrast to previous studies focusing on structure and processes of care. These QIs also indicated how frequently quality concerns may be occurring for those receiving palliative and end-of-life home care. Conclusion. It appears that QI rates did not change over the course of the pandemic in this population. Future work should be directed to understanding the temporal variation in these QI rates, risk-adjusting the QI rates for further comparison among jurisdictions, provinces, and countries and in creating benchmarks to project acceptable rates of different QIs. / Thesis / Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

京都大学 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(人間健康科学) / 乙第13614号 / 論人健博第14号 / 新制||人健||8(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科人間健康科学系専攻 / (主査)教授 古田 真里枝, 教授 宮下 美香, 教授 片岡 仁美 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Human Health Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

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