Background

End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are a common accompaniment to the dying process. International studies have shown that 69-84% of dying patients report having dreams or visions primarily of deceased loved ones and that these experiences are a source of comfort for not only the dying person but also their families.  60-90% of healthcare professionals in palliative care settings and residential aged care facilities report either witnessing or being told of an ELDV in the preceding 5 years.   

In Australia, more than 50% of end-of-life care occurs in an acute care hospital and this care is provided by doctors and nurses who may not have received any education, either undergraduate or post-graduate, regarding holistic end-of-life care. It seems likely that acute care nurses may therefore be less likely to identify and provide support for ELDVs than those working in palliative care and residential aged care settings.

Aim 

 This study aims to:

Methods

The study is in progress using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Participants are medical and surgical nurses at a single hospital in Sydney. Phase one is using a cross-sectional survey to provide summary descriptive and inferential statistics and is due to be completed in June 2023. Phase two will involve in-depth semi-structured interviews to be completed in the second half of 2023.

Results

As of 17th March, the survey had recruited 30 of 164 (18%) medical/surgical nurses at the hospital. Final results from the survey will be presented at the conference, together with emerging themes from the interviews.