NURSING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF DYING PATIENTS
Rosemary McIntyre
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Whurr Publishers Ltd, 2002
266 pp
ISBN 1-86156-270-5
RRP £22.50, $US32, $AUD65.
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What are the feelings and needs of families of patients dying on acute hospital wards? Are they adequately managed? How do staff nurses feel when dealing with the relatives of dying patients?
Do they avoid it, if possible? Is it stressful?
This book is a detailed report of a research project designed to address these questions. Phase 1 of the study set out to define the key issues from points of view of both the relatives and
staff. A two-day workshop was then held to discuss the findings and then to plan the development, implementation and evaluation of quality assurance standards for improved family support during
terminal illness. Post-intervention interviews with relatives and with staff document improvement and the liberal use of direct quotations from the interviews is a highlight.
This book would be a useful addition to the palliative care library shelf, particularly in acute hospitals. It is a demonstration that change is possible and the clear documentation of all
the processes involved make it a good example of how to go about quality assurance improvements.
Roger Woodruff
Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne
October 2004
Author Information
Rosemary McIntyre is Head of Studies (Scotland and Northern Ireland), Marie Curie Cancer Care (Education).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Review of the Literature
3. The Theoretical Framework
4. Approach and Methods
5. Phase 1 Findings
6. The Intervention
7. Phase 2 Findings: The Relatives’ Accounts
8. Phase 2 Findings: The Staff Nurses’ Accounts
9. Evaluation
10. Discussion, conclusion and recommendations
Index
