Attitude to death Archives - Critical Care Science (CCS)
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2021;33(4):592-599
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20210086
To translate and culturally adapt the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit-Quality of Dying and Death questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.
This was a cross-cultural adaptation process including conceptual, cultural, and semantic equivalence steps comprising three stages. Stage 1 involved authorization to perform the translation and cultural adaptation. Stage 2 entailed independent translation from English into Brazilian Portuguese, a synthesis of the translation, back-translation, and an expert panel. Stage 3 involved a pretest conducted with family caregivers and a multidisciplinary team.
The evaluation by the expert panel resulted in an average agreement of 0.8 in relation to semantic, cultural, and conceptual equivalence. The pretests of both versions of the questionnaire showed that the participants had adequate comprehension regarding the ease of understanding the items and response options.
After going through the process of translation and cultural adaptation, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit-Quality of Dying and Death caregiver and multidisciplinary team versions were considered culturally adapted, with both groups having a good understanding of the items. The questionnaires include relevant items to evaluate the process of death and dying in the intensive care setting, and suggest changes in care centered on patients and especially family caregivers, given the finitude of their children.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2021;33(4):592-599
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20210086
To translate and culturally adapt the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit-Quality of Dying and Death questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.
This was a cross-cultural adaptation process including conceptual, cultural, and semantic equivalence steps comprising three stages. Stage 1 involved authorization to perform the translation and cultural adaptation. Stage 2 entailed independent translation from English into Brazilian Portuguese, a synthesis of the translation, back-translation, and an expert panel. Stage 3 involved a pretest conducted with family caregivers and a multidisciplinary team.
The evaluation by the expert panel resulted in an average agreement of 0.8 in relation to semantic, cultural, and conceptual equivalence. The pretests of both versions of the questionnaire showed that the participants had adequate comprehension regarding the ease of understanding the items and response options.
After going through the process of translation and cultural adaptation, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit-Quality of Dying and Death caregiver and multidisciplinary team versions were considered culturally adapted, with both groups having a good understanding of the items. The questionnaires include relevant items to evaluate the process of death and dying in the intensive care setting, and suggest changes in care centered on patients and especially family caregivers, given the finitude of their children.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2011;23(4):448-454
DOI 10.1590/S0103-507X2011000400009
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess family member acceptance of orthotanasia as related to symptom management, patient preference and the influence of the medical team's communication on therapy. METHODS: This was a descriptive one-year study conducted at the adult intensive care unit of the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual. A structured questionnaire based on the Quality of Dying and Death (QODD 22) instrument and prior informal interviews were used. RESULTS: Sixty family members were assessed; the mean age was 51.7 + 12.1 years, and 81.7% were female. The patients were hospitalized for a mean of 31 + 26.9 days, and 17.0% of these days were spent in the intensive care unit. Most of the patients had neurological conditions. Most of the patients (53.3%) had discussed their end-of-life care wishes with family members; however, 76.7% of them had not discussed this issue with their doctors (p < 0.00). The family members reported being favorable to orthotanasia in 83.3% of the cases. Most (85.0%) desired the medical team to clearly approach the subject, and 65.0% wished to take part in the quality of end-of-life decision making process. The family members were generally satisfied with information they received from the doctors: 93.3% believed they had received appropriately frequent communications about the clinical conditions; 81.7% were able to clarify their doubts regarding the patient's clinical status; the communication was understood by 83.3% of the respondents; and 80.0% believed that clear and honest information had been provided. Only 43.3% of the respondents wished to be present at the time of their loved ones' deaths. A significant association between family member acceptance of orthotanasia and participation in end-of-life decisions (p = 0.042) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the respondents were favorable to orthotanasia and wished to participate in end-of-life discussions.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2011;23(4):448-454
DOI 10.1590/S0103-507X2011000400009
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess family member acceptance of orthotanasia as related to symptom management, patient preference and the influence of the medical team's communication on therapy. METHODS: This was a descriptive one-year study conducted at the adult intensive care unit of the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual. A structured questionnaire based on the Quality of Dying and Death (QODD 22) instrument and prior informal interviews were used. RESULTS: Sixty family members were assessed; the mean age was 51.7 + 12.1 years, and 81.7% were female. The patients were hospitalized for a mean of 31 + 26.9 days, and 17.0% of these days were spent in the intensive care unit. Most of the patients had neurological conditions. Most of the patients (53.3%) had discussed their end-of-life care wishes with family members; however, 76.7% of them had not discussed this issue with their doctors (p < 0.00). The family members reported being favorable to orthotanasia in 83.3% of the cases. Most (85.0%) desired the medical team to clearly approach the subject, and 65.0% wished to take part in the quality of end-of-life decision making process. The family members were generally satisfied with information they received from the doctors: 93.3% believed they had received appropriately frequent communications about the clinical conditions; 81.7% were able to clarify their doubts regarding the patient's clinical status; the communication was understood by 83.3% of the respondents; and 80.0% believed that clear and honest information had been provided. Only 43.3% of the respondents wished to be present at the time of their loved ones' deaths. A significant association between family member acceptance of orthotanasia and participation in end-of-life decisions (p = 0.042) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the respondents were favorable to orthotanasia and wished to participate in end-of-life discussions.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2009;21(2):141-147
DOI 10.1590/S0103-507X2009000200005
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the medical decisions at end-of-life of patients admitted at HU/UFSC and to compare these decisions and the profile of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU) to those who died in medical (MW) and surgical wards (SW). METHODS: This is a retrospective and observational study. Demographic data, clinical features, treatment and the end-of-life care decisions of adult patients who died in wards and the intensive care unit of HU/UFSC from July/2004 to December/2008 were analyzed . For statistical analysis the Student's t, χ2 and ANOVA tests were used: (significance p <0.05). RESULTS: An analysis was made of 1124 deaths: 404 occurred in ICU, 607 in MW and 113 in SW. The overall hospital mortality rate was 5.9% (ICU=24.49%, MW=7.2%, SW=1.69%). Mean ages of patients were: ICU=56.7, MW=69.3 and SW=70.4 years (p <0.01). Withholding/withdrawing life support was performed prior to 30.7% of deaths in the intensive care unit and 10% in the wards (p <0.01). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not carried out in 65% of cases in ICU, 79% in MW and 62% in SW. Besides cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the more frequent withholding/withdrawing life support in the intensive care unit were vasoactive drugs and in the wards refusal of admission to intensive care unit . Do-not-resuscitate order was documented in 2.4% of cases in ICU and 2.6% in MW. Palliative and comfort care were provided to 2% of patients in ICU, 11.5% in MW and 8% in SW. Terminality of the disease was recognized in 40% of cases in ICU, 34.6% in MW and 16.8% in SW. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of patients who died and medical decisions during the end-of-life process were different in the intensive care unit, clinical and surgical wards.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2009;21(2):141-147
DOI 10.1590/S0103-507X2009000200005
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the medical decisions at end-of-life of patients admitted at HU/UFSC and to compare these decisions and the profile of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU) to those who died in medical (MW) and surgical wards (SW). METHODS: This is a retrospective and observational study. Demographic data, clinical features, treatment and the end-of-life care decisions of adult patients who died in wards and the intensive care unit of HU/UFSC from July/2004 to December/2008 were analyzed . For statistical analysis the Student's t, χ2 and ANOVA tests were used: (significance p <0.05). RESULTS: An analysis was made of 1124 deaths: 404 occurred in ICU, 607 in MW and 113 in SW. The overall hospital mortality rate was 5.9% (ICU=24.49%, MW=7.2%, SW=1.69%). Mean ages of patients were: ICU=56.7, MW=69.3 and SW=70.4 years (p <0.01). Withholding/withdrawing life support was performed prior to 30.7% of deaths in the intensive care unit and 10% in the wards (p <0.01). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not carried out in 65% of cases in ICU, 79% in MW and 62% in SW. Besides cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the more frequent withholding/withdrawing life support in the intensive care unit were vasoactive drugs and in the wards refusal of admission to intensive care unit . Do-not-resuscitate order was documented in 2.4% of cases in ICU and 2.6% in MW. Palliative and comfort care were provided to 2% of patients in ICU, 11.5% in MW and 8% in SW. Terminality of the disease was recognized in 40% of cases in ICU, 34.6% in MW and 16.8% in SW. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of patients who died and medical decisions during the end-of-life process were different in the intensive care unit, clinical and surgical wards.
