title: Dyspnea assessment and management in hospice patients with pulmonary disorders.
abstract: Accurate assessments and appropriate management of dyspnea are essential to provide improved quality of life for hospice patients. This study describes methods of assessing dyspnea and interventions used to manage dyspnea in 72 hospice patients with end-stage lung disease or lung cancer. The mean age of the sample was 72.46 years old and the majority was white (80 percent) and male (62 percent). Paired t-tests were used to compare mean scores on admission and near death for dyspnea severity, Karnofsky functional status, pain, and Mini-Mental Status scores. Results showed significant decline in functional and cognitive status, but no significant changes in dyspnea severity and pain. Dyspnea was often assessed subjectively with observational methods only. Use of inhalants, oxygen, positioning, steroids, and oral opioids were the most frequent therapies for dyspnea. Relaxation, guided imagery, and other complementary therapies were rarely used (five percent or less). Measurement of dyspnea needs to be done frequently by using standardized instruments to assess severity and degree of symptom distress as well as the effects of treatment. Clinical trials are needed to determine which dyspnea interventions are most effective in terminally ill patients. Guidelines such as those developed for pain management are needed for effectively managing dyspnea.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, College of Nursing, Tampa, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013727:Terminal Care; D019452:Terminally Ill