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Qualitative
Patients, family members, and providers identified 6 components of a “good death”

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebn.4.1.32

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    Steinhauser KE, Clipp EC, McNeilly M, et al.In search of a good death: observations of patients, families, and providers.Ann Intern Med2000 May 16;132:825–32OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science

    QUESTION: What are the attributes of a “good death” as understood by patients, families, and providers involved in end of life care?

    Design

    Grounded theory.

    Setting

    Durham, North Carolina, USA.

    Participants

    75 participants (age range 26–77 y, 64% women, 70% white, 61% Protestant) were recruited from a university medical centre, a Veterans Affairs medical centre, and a community hospice. Participants included 27 nurses, 10 social workers, 8 hospice volunteers, 6 chaplains, 6 physicians, 14 patients, and 4 bereaved family members.

    Methods

    12 focus groups of 6–8 participants, stratified by role and race, were held over a 4 month period until data saturation occurred. Participants were asked to discuss their experiences of the deaths of family members, friends, or patients and to reflect on what made those deaths good or bad. After analysing focus group transcripts, 2 members from each group (the most and least talkative) were interviewed; …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development.

    • For correspondence: Dr K E Steinhauser, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (152), 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA. Fax +1 919 416 5838.