Making the transition to hospice: exploring hospice professionals' perspectives.
Hospice care is available for 6 months before death but the length of use varies widely, suggesting that there are different perspectives on the appropriate timing for this transition. This qualitative study explored hospice professionals' views on the appropriate timing for and communication about hospice. Ethnography of team meetings informed the development of questions for focus groups and written follow-up surveys with 53 hospice professionals. Results suggest timely admissions are situation-specific and involve a terminal prognosis, terminal decline, and a mutual understanding. Important aspects of communication among families, physicians, and hospice teams are described.
Waldrop
Deborah P
DP
University at Buffalo School of Social Work, 685 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA. dwaldrop@buffalo.edu
Rinfrette
Elaine S
ES
D017028:Caregivers; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005190:Family; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006738:Hospices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018578:Hospital-Physician Relations; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012947:Social Work; D013727:Terminal Care; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States