Qualitative study on the perception of good death in patients with end-stage cancer in oncology nurses

Wei-Dan Wu; Yi Wang; Xin-Yu Fu; Jin-Hua Zhang; Chen-Yang Zhang; Xin-Li Mao; Shao-Wei Li

doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02081-x

Qualitative study on the perception of good death in patients with end-stage cancer in oncology nurses

BMC Nurs. 2024 Jun 25;23(1):431. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-02081-x.

Authors

Wei-Dan Wu^#^{1

2

3}, Yi Wang^#^{1

2

3}, Xin-Yu Fu^#⁴, Jin-Hua Zhang¹, Chen-Yang Zhang⁴, Xin-Li Mao^{5

6

7}, Shao-Wei Li^{8

9

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China.
² Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China.
³ Institute of Digestive Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China.
⁴ Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China.
⁵ Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. maoxl@enzemed.com.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. maoxl@enzemed.com.
⁷ Institute of Digestive Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. maoxl@enzemed.com.
⁸ Department of Gastroenterology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. li_shaowei81@hotmail.com.
⁹ Key Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Techniques & Rapid Rehabilitation of Digestive System Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. li_shaowei81@hotmail.com.
¹⁰ Institute of Digestive Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. li_shaowei81@hotmail.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the perception of good death of patients with end-stage cancer by nurses in the oncology department.

Method: In the study we used a phenomenological approach and semi-structured interviews. A total of 11 nurses from the oncology department of a Grade A hospital in Taizhou were interviewed on the cognition of good death from July 1 to September 30, 2022. Colaizzi's analysis method was used to analyse the interview data. This study followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).

Result: Four themes were identified: a strong sense of responsibility and mission; To sustain hope and faith; The important role of family members; Improve patients' quality of life.

Conclusion: The nurses in the department of oncology have a low level of knowledge about the "good death", and the correct understanding and view of the "good death" is the premise of the realization of " good death". The ability of nursing staff to improve the "good death", attention, and meet the needs and wishes of individuals and families, is the guarantee of the realization of "good death".

Keywords: Cognition; Good death; Nurse; Oncology department; Qualitative research.

Abstract

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