Aug 23, 2022
This episode features Dr Sofia Morberg Jämterud (Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden) and Anna Sandgren (Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden).
Serious illness conversations promote patients’ possibility of
receiving care that is in accordance with their wishes and
priorities. Identifying patients for serious illness conversations
remains difficult even when palliative care needs are
identified.
Identification of patients for serious illness conversations is a
process influenced by a multitude of factors, such as the patients’
palliative care needs, continuity in patient–professional relations
and continuity of staff. Highlights the hesitation of
non-palliative care professionals in identifying the patients for
serious illness conversations due to existential and ethical
concerns, such as fear of taking away hope.
Identifying patients for serious illness conversations is a complex
process involving several factors and is not limited to using
generic tools, such as the surprise question. Identifying the right
patient at the right time involves existential and ethical concerns
which may impact healthcare professionals’ willingness to identify
patients and offer serious illness conversations. Further research
is needed on how health care professionals’ values and attitudes
influence the identification process.
Full paper available from:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02692163221102266
If you would like to record a podcast about your published (or
accepted) Palliative Medicine paper, please contact Dr Amara
Nwosu:
a.nwosu@lancaster.ac.uk