What Helps or Hinders End-of-Life Care in Adult Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia? A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Despite advanced technology, many intensive care unit (ICU) patients die, necessitating effective end-of-life care.
• Providing adequate end-of-life support is challenging due to cultural beliefs and emotional complexities.
• Limited research exists on end-of-life practices in Saudi Arabian ICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current end-of-life care provided by healthcare teams in adult ICUs in Saudi Arabia.
• To identify factors that help or hinder effective end-of-life care delivery in these settings.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods, sequential explanatory design will be employed.
• Phase 1: A cross-sectional survey of ~400 healthcare providers using the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Index (PEOL Care Index) and manager questionnaires.
• Phase 2: Qualitative descriptive semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers, managers, and bereaved family members.

Main Results:

• This section is to be filled after the study is conducted and results are available.

Conclusions:

• Findings will elucidate current end-of-life care practices in Saudi Arabian ICUs.
• The study will identify barriers and facilitators to inform strategies for improving end-of-life care quality.
• Insights into family experiences will enhance understanding and support for bereaved relatives.