Article Text
Abstract
Background Decision-making in end-stage dementia (ESD) is a complex process involving medical, social, legal and ethical issues. In ESD, the person suffers from severe cognitive problems leading to a loss of capacity to decide matters regarding health and end-of-life issues. The decisional responsibility is usually passed to clinicians and relatives who can face significant difficulty in making moral decisions, particularly in the presence of life-threatening swallowing problems.
Aim This study aimed to understand the decision-making processes of clinical teams and relatives in addressing life-threatening swallowing difficulties in ESD in long-term care in Malta.
Method The study followed a qualitative approach where six case studies, involving six different teams and relatives of six different patients, were interviewed retrospectively to understand their decision-making in connection with the management of swallowing difficulties in ESD. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with each stakeholder. All data were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.
Results Four themes were identified: the vulnerability of patients in dementia decision-making; the difficult role of relatives in decision-making; the decisional conflict between aggressive care through tube feeding versus oral comfort feeding; a consensus-building decision-making process as ideal to facilitate agreement and respect for patient’s dignity.
Conclusion Decision-making to manage swallowing difficulties in ESD is a challenging process, which involves an interpretation of personal values, beliefs, patient preferences, care needs and clinical practice. Better communication between clinicians and relatives in dementia helps promote agreement between stakeholders leading to a care plan that respects the dignity of patients at their end of life.
- dementia
- human dignity
- end of life care
- decision-making
- deglutition disorders
Data availability statement
All data relevant to this article are derived from JD's doctoral research titled 'Moral Reasoning in End of Life Clinical Decision Making for Persons in End Stage Dementia'. The thesis is openly available for viewing at the Melitensia Section of the University of Malta Library.
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Data availability statement
All data relevant to this article are derived from JD's doctoral research titled 'Moral Reasoning in End of Life Clinical Decision Making for Persons in End Stage Dementia'. The thesis is openly available for viewing at the Melitensia Section of the University of Malta Library.
Footnotes
Contributors The corresponding author, JD, carried out the underlying research as part of his doctoral degree in the Department of Gerontology and Dementia Studies, Faculty for Social Wellbeing of the University of Malta. The three coauthors, namely EA, JCH and PB, were his doctoral supervisors. This paper was drafted by the first author with the collaboration of the other three authors. All authors read and approved the final version of the paper.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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