Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Igor Orenstein Chair for the Study of Geriatrics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Omega (Westport). 2024 Nov;90(1):404-419. doi: 10.1177/00302228221107236. Epub 2022 Jun 13.
We studied levels of awareness of impending death in older patients and their family caregivers. Using a mixed methods approach, we interviewed 70 family caregivers in Israel. Of the caregivers, 64% reported having been aware of the impending death, 33% were unaware, and 3% uncertain. Caregivers reported their perception that 36% of patients were aware, 27% unaware, and for 37% they were uncertain about the patient's awareness. Mechanisms that increased caregivers' awareness were specific diagnosis, significant deterioration in health, preparation by a health professional, or patient preparations for death. This study clarifies processes which aid awareness, and the relationship between awareness and actual preparation for dying.
我们研究了老年患者及其家属照顾者对即将死亡的意识水平。采用混合方法，我们在以色列采访了 70 名家庭照顾者。在这些照顾者中，64%的人报告说已经意识到即将死亡，33%的人不知道，3%的人不确定。照顾者报告说，他们认为 36%的患者有意识到，27%的患者没有意识到，而对于 37%的患者，他们不确定患者是否意识到自己的情况。增加照顾者意识的机制包括明确的诊断、健康状况显著恶化、专业医疗人员的准备或患者对死亡的准备。这项研究阐明了有助于意识的过程，以及意识与实际临终准备之间的关系。
