Abstract
Background/aims: Palliative care attends to one’s physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions. The Utrecht Symptom Diary - 4 Dimensional (USD-4D) has been developed as a conversation tool to detect, monitor and discuss problems and needs in these four dimensions. It is known that not all patients discuss their social and spiritual with ease. Therefore, we want to explore what patients require to discuss their social and spiritual needs when using the USD-4D
Methods: A generic qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Eligible patients were in the palliative phase of their illness and have used the USD-4D. Purposive sampling guided the inclusion process. Interviews were conducted until saturation and were analysed by two researchers using a thematic analysis approach.
Results: An interim analysis of 3 interviews (men = 1, age 53-80 years) shows that patients require both intrinsic support and extrinsic motivation. In general, working with the USD-4D suits patients and enables them to state how they feel at the moment of assessment. The physical and psychological items are experienced as less cognitive demanding than the social and spiritual items. Some patients need support from their nurses with discussing the latter, others manage on their own or within their own social context. Some healthcare professionals are more approachable than others, which has to do with both the patient’s and the professional’s personality and their interaction. Patients do not think it is burdensome to be asked about social and spiritual needs. It is of great importance that it is respected when patients do not want to talk about it.
Conclusions: Patients indicate that the USD-4D is helpful in daily practice. Nurses should invite patients to discuss the social and spiritual items of the USD-4D, but show respect when a patient does not want to. This implies that nurses should ask patients about their social and spiritual needs and that they should be able to connect with their patient.
Funding: ZonMw.
Methods: A generic qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Eligible patients were in the palliative phase of their illness and have used the USD-4D. Purposive sampling guided the inclusion process. Interviews were conducted until saturation and were analysed by two researchers using a thematic analysis approach.
Results: An interim analysis of 3 interviews (men = 1, age 53-80 years) shows that patients require both intrinsic support and extrinsic motivation. In general, working with the USD-4D suits patients and enables them to state how they feel at the moment of assessment. The physical and psychological items are experienced as less cognitive demanding than the social and spiritual items. Some patients need support from their nurses with discussing the latter, others manage on their own or within their own social context. Some healthcare professionals are more approachable than others, which has to do with both the patient’s and the professional’s personality and their interaction. Patients do not think it is burdensome to be asked about social and spiritual needs. It is of great importance that it is respected when patients do not want to talk about it.
Conclusions: Patients indicate that the USD-4D is helpful in daily practice. Nurses should invite patients to discuss the social and spiritual items of the USD-4D, but show respect when a patient does not want to. This implies that nurses should ask patients about their social and spiritual needs and that they should be able to connect with their patient.
Funding: ZonMw.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | P02-341 |
| Journal | Palliative Medicine |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | Suppl_1 |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Sept 2020 |
| Event | EAPC World Research Congress 2020 - online Duration: 7 Oct 2020 → 9 Oct 2020 |