Exploring the components of the quality of death in Japanese emergency departments: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND

The need to care for patients who die in the emergency department is increasing in Japan, and emergency nurses are required to provide end-of-life care to ensure that patients experience a good death. However, the components of the quality of death and what constitutes a good death for patients dying in the emergency department are unclear.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the components of the quality of death for patients who die in emergency departments of Japanese hospitals.

METHODS

This study employed a qualitative design. An inductive content analysis was conducted based on semi-structured interviews with 26 participants, which included 15 emergency nurses, five emergency physicians, and six bereaved families.

RESULTS

Seven components of quality of death were identified: (1) transition to the end-of-life phase after receiving the best treatment, (2) dying without suffering, (3) having the patient's wishes respected, (4) having a loved one nearby, (5) maintaining human dignity, (6) having no change in appearance, and (7) not making the family feel guilty.

CONCLUSION

These components suggested that emergency nurses should: support patients' receipt of the best treatment and foster their smooth transition to the end-of-life phase at the appropriate time, ensure that the patients in the end-of-life phase spend time with their loved ones immediately before their death, enable the maintenance of human dignity and patient identity of end-of-life patients, and make sure that the families of end-of-life patients do not feel guilt.