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Problems associated with end of life care in acute hospitals

journal contribution
posted on 2011-01-01, 00:00 authored by Melissa BloomerMelissa Bloomer, C Moss, Wendy Cross
Many more people die in acute hospitals than ever before. An integrative literature review was undertaken
to explore end-of-life care (EoLC) delivered in non-palliative care settings. It showed that providing EoLC
in acute hospitals is difficult, given the emphasis on life extension and cure. EoLC pathways can assist with
the planning and delivery of care. According to an international report, the UK and Australia lead the world
in quality care at the end of life. However, even in these countries, acute hospital culture has the potential
to have a negative effect on care of dying people. There is a false assumption that clinicians are educationally,
culturally and emotionally prepared to recognise dying and respond appropriately. This article reviews the
delivery of EoLC in acute hospitals. It identifies workplace cultural difficulties and care-delivery models that
impact on providing quality EoLC. Programmes and initiatives that seek to address cultural, health service
and educational issues are identified and discussed. The knowledge deficit of health professionals,
in particular nurses, with regard to providing quality EoLC is also examined.

History

Journal

End of life journal

Volume

1

Issue

1

Pagination

1 - 7

Publisher

BMJ Publishing

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

2047-6361

eISSN

1541-1168

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2011, BMJ Publishing

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