liu.seSearch for publications in DiVA
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • oxford
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Ethical challenges around thirst in end-of-life care -experiences of palliative care physicians
Linköping University, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Nursing Sciences and Reproductive Health. Linköping University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Region Östergötland, Local Health Care Services in East Östergötland, Department of Advanced Home Care in Norrköping.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9606-3238
Region Östergötland, Local Health Care Services in East Östergötland, Department of Advanced Home Care in Norrköping.
Karolinska Inst, Sweden; Karolinska Univ Hosp, Sweden.
Linköping University, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Nursing Sciences and Reproductive Health. Linköping University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4197-4026
Show others and affiliations
2023 (English)In: BMC Medical Ethics, ISSN 1472-6939, E-ISSN 1472-6939, Vol. 24, no 1, article id 61Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BackgroundThirst and dry mouth are common symptoms in terminally ill patients. In their day-to-day practice, palliative care physicians regularly encounter ethical dilemmas, especially regarding artificial hydration. Few studies have focused on thirst and the ethical dilemmas palliative care physicians encounter in relation to this, leading to a knowledge gap in this area.AimThe aim of this study was to explore palliative care physicians experiences of ethical challenges in relation to thirst in terminally ill patients.MethodsA qualitative interview study with an inductive approach was conducted. Sixteen physicians working in four different specialised palliative care units and one geriatric care unit in different hospitals in Sweden were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with a reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsWhen presented with an ethical challenge relating to thirst, physicians attempted to balance benefits and harms while emphasizing respect for the patients autonomy. The ethical challenges in this study were: Starting, continuing or discontinuing drips; lack of evidence and traditions create doubt; and lack of interest and time may result in patient suffering.ConclusionsAll physicians in this study reported that "Starting, continuing or discontinuing drips" was the main ethical challenge they encountered, where some were so accustomed to the decision that they had a standard answer ready to offer patients and families. Physicians reported that drips were a symbol of thirst quenching, life and survival but were not necessary in end-of-life care. Others questioned the traditions regarding thirst and emphasised drips in particular.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMC , 2023. Vol. 24, no 1, article id 61
Keywords [en]
Palliative care; Thirst; Ethical challenges; Physicians; Thematic analysis
National Category
Medical Ethics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-197421DOI: 10.1186/s12910-023-00943-8ISI: 001044894700001PubMedID: 37559116OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-197421DiVA, id: diva2:1794028
Note

Funding Agencies|Sjoberg foundation [20152002]

Available from: 2023-09-04 Created: 2023-09-04 Last updated: 2023-09-04

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textPubMed

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Friedrichsen, MariaLythell, CarolineJaarsma, TinyÅngström, HeleneMilovanovic, MichaKarlsson, MaritMilberg, AnnaSöderlund Schaller, AnneJaarsma, Pier
By organisation
Division of Nursing Sciences and Reproductive HealthFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesDepartment of Advanced Home Care in NorrköpingDepartment of Internal Medicine in NorrköpingDivision of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Community MedicineNärvårdsklinikenPain and Rehabilitation CenterDivision of Society and Health
In the same journal
BMC Medical Ethics
Medical Ethics

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn
Total: 13 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • oxford
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf