Which Physicians' Behaviors on Death Pronouncement Affect Family-Perceived Physician Compassion? A Randomized,...

Although the death of a loved one is a devastating family event, little is known about which behaviors positively affect families' perceptions on death pronouncements.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a compassionate death pronouncement on participant-perceived physician compassion, trust in physicians, and emotions.

In this randomized, video-vignette study, 92 people (≥50 years) in Tokyo metropolitan area viewed two videos of death pronouncements by an on-call physician with or without compassion-enhanced behaviors, including five components: waiting until the families calm themselves down, explaining that the physician has received a sign-out about information of the patient's condition, performing examination respectfully, ascertaining the time of death with a wristwatch (vs. smartphone), and reassuring the families that the patient did not experience pain. Main outcomes were physician compassion score, trust in physician, and emotions.

After viewing the video with compassion-enhanced behaviors compared with the video without them, participants assigned significantly lower compassion scores (reflecting higher physician compassion) (mean 26.2 vs. 36.4, F = 33.1, P < 0.001); higher trust in physician (5.10 vs. 3.00, F = 39.7, P < 0.001); and lower scores for anger (2.49 vs. 3.78, F = 18.0, P < 0.001), sadness (3.42 vs. 3.85, F = 11.8, P = 0.001), fear (1.93 vs. 2.55, F = 15.8, P < 0.001), and disgust (2.45 vs. 3.71, F = 19.4, P < 0.001).

To convey compassion on death pronouncement, we recommend that physicians initiate prompt examination, explain that the physician has received a sign-out, perform examination respectfully, ascertain the time of death with a wristwatch, and reassure the families that the patient did not experience pain.