Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives on the Communication Challenges When Discussing Palliative Sedation: A Qualitative Study Across Eight European Countries
Rattachement africain : hu, de, be, gb, nl, es, it, ro. Niveau de preuve : code pays fourni par la source.
Le résumé fourni par la source
Background/Objectives: Studies have shown that healthcare providers struggle to discuss difficult end-of-life issues, including palliative sedation (PS), with patients and relatives. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate communication challenges related to PS among healthcare providers in eight European countries. Methods: In each country, two clinical settings providing palliative care were selected. Two moral case deliberation (MCD) sessions were conducted, each with 3 to 9 palliative healthcare professionals (HCPs). They discussed patient cases involving PS and refractory symptom management. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed using a framework analysis. Results: Key issues included core communication values—open, empathetic, and honest dialogue—which were consistent across countries but varied in practice. In The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the UK, communication prioritized patient autonomy through timely discussions and family dialogue. In Spain and Italy, family-centered communication approaches predominated, while in Romania and Hungary, tendencies for selective disclosure were also evident, along with delegated decision-making and complex family dynamics. Certain challenges reflected professional experience rather than national culture. Nurses mediated across contexts, while terminology surrounding palliative sedation remained a source of ambiguity. Conclusions: This is the first study to present HCPs’ perceptions of communication issues related to PS across Europe. Despite variations between settings, consistently open dialogue among patients, families, and HCPs emerged as the most valued element. These findings highlight the need to better understand how end-of-life communication about PS varies in practice and underscore the importance of considering healthcare providers’ real-world experiences to improve communication with patients and families.
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Le contrôle bibliographique ouvert
DOI retrouvé dans Crossref DOI retrouvé ; titre concordant.
- Titre Crossref
- Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives on the Communication Challenges When Discussing Palliative Sedation: A Qualitative Study Across Eight European Countries
- Date Crossref
- 21/09/2025
- Éditeur
- MDPI AG
- Type
- journal-article
Ce recoupement confirme des métadonnées liées au DOI. Il ne confirme ni la méthode ni les conclusions de l’étude, et il ne compte pas comme une seconde source scientifique indépendante.
Où se fait cette recherche
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University of Pecs Department of Primary Health Care pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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University Hospital Bonn Department of Palliative Medicine pays non établi dans la noticeÉtablissement de santé
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KU Leuven pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Lancaster University pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Radboud University Nijmegen pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Radboud University Medical Center pays non établi dans la noticeOrganisme public
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Navarre Institute of Health Research pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Clinica Universidad de Navarra pays non établi dans la noticeÉtablissement de santé
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La Maddalena pays non établi dans la noticeÉtablissement de santé
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Transylvania University of Brașov pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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University of Leuven Laboratory for Experimental Radiotherapy pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Faculty of Health and Medicine International Observatory on End of Life Care pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
Department of Primary Health Care — University of Pecs, Department of Palliative Medicine — University Hospital Bonn et KU Leuven, avec 9 autres affiliations.
Une affiliation ne permet pas de déduire la nationalité d’un auteur.