Residents' and family members' perceptions of care quality and self-determination in palliative phase in residential care

Författare
Ramona Schenell, Anneli Ozanne, Susann Strang, Ingela Henoch
Titel
Residents' and family members' perceptions of care quality and self-determination in palliative phase in residential care
Utgivningsår
2020
Tidskrift
Palliat Support Care
Volym
18
Häfte
1
Sidor
69-81
Url
DOI: 10.1017/S1478951519000178
Nyckelord
Autonomy; Palliative; QPP; Quality of care; Self-determination.
Sammanfattning

Abstract
Objective: Dependency on others can compromise self-determination for older persons in the palliative phase in residential care. Family members can support the residents' self-determination but may also jeopardize it. Quality of care (QoC) is linked to respecting the autonomy of the residents and providing opportunities to participate in decision-making. The aim of the study was to provide knowledge about residents' and family members' perceptions of QoC and self-determination and to detect possible differences between their experiences.

Method: This cross-sectional study used an abbreviated version of the questionnaire, Quality from the Patients' Perspective, with additional items about decision-making. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used to analyze the perception of QoC and to detect differences between residents' and family members' perceptions.

Result: QoC was perceived as lower than preferred in the majority of items and there was a high level of agreement between residents and family members. Lowest mean values in QoC were found in: support when feeling lonely; support when feeling worry, anxiety or fear; and staff's time to talk to the residents. Decision-making in everyday life and in life-changing situations showed that neither residents nor family members trusted staff to know about the residents' preferences.

Significance of results: Broad improvements are needed, especially in psychosocial care. Several of the negative outcomes on QoC and self-determination seem to derive from a focus on practical tasks and the lack of trustful relationships between residents and staff. An early implementation of palliative care, with a focus on what brings quality to each resident's life, could facilitate QoC and self-determination, in both everyday life and at the end of life.

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