Ensuring a good death: Priorities and concerns of healthcare personnel across healthcare settings.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of healthcare personnel involved in end-of-life care is to ensure a good and dignified death. However, end-of-life care is delivered across various healthcare settings. This qualitative study aimed to identify the priorities and concerns related to end-of-life care shared by healthcare personnel working in hospitals, nursing homes, and municipal home care.

METHODS

Twenty-two healthcare personnel from across Norway participated in virtual focus group interviews. Participants represented 3 distinct healthcare settings and had diverse professional backgrounds. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was conducted and informed by theory on professional competence.

RESULTS

The analysis demonstrated that ensuring a good death was a shared focus among participants. Across settings, they expressed aligned priorities and concerns regarding end-of-life care. They likened their role to that of a pilot boat skipper, guiding the end-of-life process with a clear focus on: 1) offering support and information, 2) providing symptom relief, and 3) ensuring a presence at the bedside. Each of these themes highlights a key priority in end-of-life care across healthcare settings, along with its associated concerns.

SIGNIFICANCE OF

RESULTS

This study demonstrates that healthcare personnel across hospitals, nursing homes, and municipal home care share core priorities of what constitutes a good and dignified death. The findings challenge setting-specific assumptions in end-of-life care and support an emphasis on shared core competencies in education and practice. Overall, the study contributes to a more unified understanding of end-of-life care by highlighting foundational care values that transcend organizational boundaries and professional backgrounds, thereby supporting policies that promote continuity and coherence across care environments.