How to approach patients and families at the end of life
South African Family Practice
| Field | Value | |
| Title | How to approach patients and families at the end of life | |
| Creator | De Swardt, Maggie Krause, Rene Jenkins, Louis S. | |
| Description | Healthcare practitioners are regularly faced with treating patients at the end of their life, and this can be very daunting. This article hopes to help the practitioner have an approach to managing end-of-life care that makes it less distressing. The symptoms at the end-of-life include delirium and/or agitation, breathing changes, skin changes, sleeping more, decrease in need for food and drink, incontinence, and increased secretions. These symptoms are discussed and practical ways of management are given. The article further discusses how to approach the difficult conversation with the family and gives guidance as to what needs to be discussed. A number of tips are discussed on how to prepare the family to handle a death at home. It is essential to look at coping mechanisms and selfcare for practitioners dealing with end-of-life care as the death of a patient not only affects the family but also the practitioner. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2024-04-24 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5916 | |
| Source | South African Family Practice; Vol 66, No 1 (2024): Part 4; 4 pages 2078-6204 2078-6190 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5916/8692
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5916/8693
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5916/8694
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5916/8695
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
