Unique challenges of hospice for patients with heart failure: A qualitative study of hospice clinicians.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with heart failure have end-of-life care needs that may benefit from hospice care. The goal of this descriptive study was to understand hospice clinicians' perspectives on the unique aspects of caring for patients with heart failure to inform approaches to improving end-of-life care.

Methods

This qualitative study explored experiences, observations, and perspectives of hospice clinicians regarding hospice care for patients with heart failure. Thirteen hospice clinicians from a variety of professional disciplines and clinical roles, diverse geographic regions, and varying lengths of time working in hospice participated in semistructured interviews. Through team-based, iterative qualitative analysis, we identified 3 major themes.

Results

Hospice clin

SUBMITTER: Lum HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4575769 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature