Quality of patients' dying and death experience in Mansoura university hospitals: nurses' perception

ABSTRACT

Death is fundamental to the nature of being human. Critical care nurses and oncology nurses care for dying patients daily. The process of dying in intensive care units [ICUs] and oncology department is complicated, and research on the quality of end of life care and dying experience is limited in Egypt. The main aim of the current study was to describe the quality of dying and death experience of patients as perceived by nurses working in oncology department and ICUs in Mansoura University Hospitals, and compare nurses' perception in the two clinical settings. The sample involved 90 nurses [45 critical care nurses and 45 oncology nurses]. Data were collected using a questionnaire sheet which gathered information about nurses' demographic characteristics, and the modified version of the Quality of Death and Dying questionnaire which elicited nurses' perception of patients' dying experiences in ICUs and oncology department. The majority of nurses reported that their patients were unable to feed themselves and did not spend enough time with their families during the end of life period. Nurses also reported that their dying patients suffered pain, nausea and/or vomiting. More than half of the nurses mentioned that their patients were not fully aware that they were dying and were not afraid of death. The findings of the study showed that cancer dying patients suffered more pain and nausea significantly than ICU patients. The majority of patients in oncology department had their family members with them during dying more than ICU patients. The findings of this study provided a rounded picture of the experience of dying patients in ICUs and oncology department. Such information can be used as a guide to enhance dying patients' experience and improve end of life care in Egyptian hospitals