Dataset Information

Dying at home for people experiencing financial hardship and deprivation: How health and social care professionals recognise and reflect on patients' circumstances.

ABSTRACT:

Background

International palliative care policy often views home as the most desirable location for end-of-life care. However, people living in more deprived areas can worry about dying in poor material circumstances and report more benefits from hospital admission at the end of life. There is increasing recognition of inequities in the experience of palliative care, particularly for people living in more deprived areas. Promoting an equity agenda in palliative care means building healthcare professionals' capacity to respond to the social determinants of health when working with patients near the end of their life.

Objectives

The purpose of this article is to present data which reveal how some health and social care professionals view home dying for people experiencing financial hardship and deprivation.

Design

This work was framed by social constructionist epistemology.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 12) were conducted with health and social care professionals who support people at the end of life. Participants were recruited from one rural and one urban health board area in Scotland, UK. Data collection occurred between February and October 2021.

Analysis

Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that healthcare staff relied on physical clues in the home environment to identify if people were experiencing financial hardship, found discussions around poverty challenging and lacked awareness of how inequities intersect at the end of life. Health professionals undertook 'placing' work to try and make the home environment a suitable space for dying, but some barriers were seen as insurmountable. There was recognition that increased partnership working and education could improve patient experiences. We argue further research is needed to capture the perspectives of individuals with direct lived experience of end-of-life care and financial hardship.

SUBMITTER: Quinn S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10071150 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Dying at home for people experiencing financial hardship and deprivation: How health and social care professionals recognise and reflect on patients' circumstances.

Quinn Sam S Richards Naomi N Gott Merryn M

Palliative care and social practice 20230331

<h4>Background</h4>International palliative care policy often views home as the most desirable location for end-of-life care. However, people living in more deprived areas can worry about dying in poor material circumstances and report more benefits from hospital admission at the end of life. There is increasing recognition of inequities in the experience of palliative care, particularly for people living in more deprived areas. Promoting an equity agenda in palliative care means building health ...[more]

PMID: 37025502

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Dataset Information

Dying at home for people experiencing financial hardship and deprivation: How health and social care professionals recognise and reflect on patients' circumstances.

Background

Objectives

Design

Methods

Analysis

Discussion

Publications

Dying at home for people experiencing financial hardship and deprivation: How health and social care professionals recognise and reflect on patients' circumstances.

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