Patterns of suffering in palliative care: A descriptive study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2021
Abstract
Suffering experiences are common phenomena in palliative care. In this study, we aim to explore the different patterns of suffering in palliative care. Adult palliative care patients were recruited from the University of Malaya Medical Centre. Suffering scores were charted 3 times a day for a week. The characteristics of the suffering charts were analyzed using SPSS. The patterns of suffering were analyzed using structural pattern recognition. A total of 53 patients participated. The overall trends of suffering were downward (64%), upward (19%), and stable (17%). Median minimum and maximum suffering scores were 2/10 and 6/10, with an average of 3.6/10. Nine patterns of suffering were recognized from categorizing two key characteristics of suffering (intensity and fluctuation)-named S1 to S9. Understanding the different patterns of suffering may lead to better suffering management.
Keywords
Suffering, Patterns of suffering, Palliative care, Psychosocial care, Cancer
Divisions
fac_med
Publication Title
Omega-Journal of Death and Dying
Volume
84
Issue
2
Publisher
SAGE Publications Inc
Publisher Location
2455 TELLER RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91320 USA