Process of dying. Defining characteristics.

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Oncology Nursing
• Thanatology

Background:

• Current approaches to end-of-life care often impose predefined stages on dying patients.
• There is a need to better understand the subjective and objective phenomena experienced by individuals during the terminal phase of cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the defining characteristics of the dying process in terminal cancer patients.
• To delineate subjective and objective phenomena experienced by patients nearing death.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective audit of 11 deceased clients' charts from a hospice program.
• Clients were diagnosed with terminal cancer.
• Delineation and grouping of subjective and objective dying characteristics.

Main Results:

• Identified characteristics including anorexia, pain absence, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, respiratory status, self-withdrawal, secretions, mental status, urinary output, restlessness, bowel sounds, blood pressure, and skin/body temperature changes.
• Observed phenomena such as skin color, edema, and diaphoresis.
• Findings indicated the dying process is an individualized experience.

Conclusions:

• The dying process for terminal cancer patients is highly individualized.
• Health professionals should focus on the patient's actual experience rather than predefined stages.
• Further research is needed to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding the dying process.