Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
03:59
Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
From coping with life to coping with death: problematic integration for the seriously ill elderly
S C Hines1, A S Babrow, L Badzek
1Delmarue Foundation, Easton, Maryland 21661, USA. hinesstddfmc.org
Health Communication
|September 12, 2001
Summary
Elderly patients nearing death often experience suffering due to communication failures. Patients seek coping information, not end-of-life treatment choices, leading to flawed end-of-life communication.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Medical Communication
- Health Psychology
Background:
- End-of-life decisions for elderly patients can lead to suffering and dependence.
- Problematic integration theory offers insights into communication failures in patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore communication challenges between elderly dialysis patients and nurses regarding end-of-life care.
- To understand how patients and nurses reconcile differing judgments about treatment.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from 142 elderly dialysis patients.
- Quantitative analysis of mailed surveys from 393 dialysis unit nurses.
Main Results:
- Patients prioritize information for coping with dialysis over information for end-of-life treatment decisions.
- A key communication gap exists between patients' desire for coping information and nurses' focus on treatment choices.
Conclusions:
- Flawed communication regarding end-of-life issues stems from a tension between coping and decision-making information needs.
- Recommendations are proposed to ease this tension, improving patient preparedness for end-of-life transitions.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Continuing Care
Continuing care describes the variety of health, personal, and social services provided over a prolonged period. The need for continuing care is increasing because people are living longer. Many people do not have families or others to care for them. Continuing care is mainly for patients who are disabled, functionally dependent, or suffering from a terminal disease. It is available within institutional settings or in homes. Examples include nursing centers or facilities, assisted living,...
01:17Classification of Illness
The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
01:27Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...
01:21Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross significantly advanced psychology's understanding of the process of dying with her influential book, On Death and Dying (1969). She focused on studying terminally ill individuals and outlined five stages commonly experienced when coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...