At the End of life : Adult patients experiences of palliative care

Background: Over 40 million people around the world suffer from incurable illness or injury each year and need palliative care. The patient experience of end-of-life care needs to be illustrated, to make the healthcare better. There is little knowledge about the social, psychological, and existential dimensions of palliative care. Therefore, it is of relevance that the nurse has knowledge about the patient’s experiences, to be able to offer a better care. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe adult patients’ experiences of palliative care. Method: The study was based on a literature study, that had a qualitative approach. Ten scientific articles were searched and selected from databases Cinahl and PubMed, with inclusion criteria's adults, English language, year 2012-2022. The articles were analysed using Friberg’s (2017) five steps process. Results: Three major themes emerged: safety and its impact, the significance of the relationship to healthcare staff, and the impact of palliative care. The patients expressed the value of a good communication with the healthcare staff, to enable feeling safe, seen and understood. Patients better understanding of palliative care resulted in feeling secure. And through receiving practical help, they maintained autonomy and self-determination. Conclusion: This study emphasized that patients' experiences of receiving palliative care is important to uptain a good quality of life. Whereas person-centered care, good communication skills, and good quality of care are central parts.