Finding privacy from a public death: a qualitative exploration of how a dedicated space for end-of-life care in an acute hospital impacts on dying patients and their families.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the experiences and perceptions of hospital staff caring for dying patients in a dedicated patient/family room (named Lotus Room).


BACKGROUND
Dying in hospital is a common outcome for people across the world. However, noise and activity in acute environments present barriers to quality end-of-life care. This is of concern because care provided to dying patients has been shown to affect both the patients and the bereaved families.


METHODS
A qualitative descriptive approach was used.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 multidisciplinary staff and seven families provided information through an investigator-developed instrument.


RESULTS
Qualitative data analysis generated three categories describing: Dying in an hospital; The Lotus Room; and the Outcomes for patients and families. The Lotus Room was seen as a large, private and, ultimately, safe space for patients and families within the public hospital environment. Family feedback supported staff perspectives that the Lotus Room facilitated family presence and communication.


CONCLUSIONS
The privacy afforded by the Lotus Room within this acute hospital provided benefits for the dying patients and grieving families. Improved outcomes included a peaceful death for patients, which may have assisted the family with their bereavement.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence of how the physical environment can address well-established barriers to quality end-of-life care in acute hospitals.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.|Centre for Nursing Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia.|School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.
Susan
S
Slatyer
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.|School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.
Catherine
C
Pienaar
Centre for Nursing Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia.|School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.|Health Research, School of Health Professions, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
Anne M
AM
Williams
Palliative Care Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
Karen
K
Proctor
Palliative Care Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
Laura
L
Hewitt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018907:Privacy; D013727:Terminal Care; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D014904:Western Australia
Lotus Room; acute care; end-of-life; family; hospital; nursing; patient; physical environment; place of death; terminal care