Table 3 Percentages of nurses who reported that they provided support to relatives of palliative care patients
With the majority I have... | Hospital (n=105) | Home care (n=229) | Total (n=334) | P*t |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Domain: physical care | ||||
- Given the relatives support with the physical care of the patient | 33.3 | 81.2 | 66.2 | 0.000 |
- Talked to the relatives about the physical problems and care required | 62.9 | 90.0 | 81.4 | 0.000 |
- Discussed end-of-life decisions (e.g. not initiating or discontinuing treatment, no more hospital admissions, euthanasia, assisted suicide) with the relatives | 64.8 | 83.0 | 77.3 | 0.000 |
Domain: psychological care | ||||
- Supported the relatives in dealing with the impending death, saying goodbye to the patient, etc. | 83.8 | 95.2 | 91.6 | 0.000 |
- Discussed the capacity, burden, values, wishes and needs of the informal caregiver in their role as a family member and offered support to prevent or reduce a possible overload | 59.1 | 94.8 | 83.5 | 0.000 |
Domain: social care | ||||
- Talked with the relatives about the changing roles and responsibilities in the family, communication with family and friends, financial concerns | 31.4 | 60.3 | 51.2 | 0.000 |
- Provided support to relatives in arranging practical matters relating to death (for example, concerning a memorial service) | 24.8 | 38.4 | 34.1 | 0.014 |
Domain: spiritual care | ||||
- Talked to the relatives about existential questions (e.g. “why has this happened to me?”, “what can this experience mean for me?” | 41.0 | 56.8 | 51.8 | 0.007 |
- Offered support to relatives in the practice of their religion or beliefs | 27.6 | 30.1 | 29.3 | 0.640 |