Communication with relatives of a dying patient

Teoretična izhodišča: Komunikacija s svojci umirajočega bolnika je za izvajalce zdravstvene nege zahtevna, saj jim povzroča dodatno obremenitev in stres. Pri vzpostavljanju odkritega pogovora s svojci umirajočega bolnika doživljajo stiske in težave. Velikokrat se srečujejo s strahom pred vprašanji svojcev ter njihovimi reakcijami. Metodologija: V diplomskem delu smo opisali posebnosti komunikacije s svojci umirajočega bolnika. Predstavili smo paliativno oskrbo in nevladno humanitarno organizacijo Hospic in njeno delovanje. Z raziskavo smo želeli ugotoviti, ali je za izvajalce zdravstvene nege delo s svojci umirajočega bolnika stresno in obremenjujoče, v kakšni meri so izvajalci zdravstvene nege seznanjeni s posebnostjo komunikacije s svojci umirajočega bolnika ter poznavanje nevladne humanitarne organizacije Hospic. Raziskava je temeljila na osnovi kvantitativne metodologije. Za zbiranje podatkov smo uporabili anketni vprašalnik, ki smo ga izdelali v namen raziskave. Raziskavo smo izvedli v Splošni bolnišnici Ptuj na oddelku za interno medicino. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 30 naključno izbranih izvajalcev zdravstvene nege. Rezultati: Rezultati raziskave so pokazali da 23 (77 %) anketirancem delo s svojci umirajočega bolnika predstavlja dodatno obremenitev in stres, 13 (44 % ) anketirancev bi se rado komunikaciji s svojci umirajočega pogosto izognilo. 16 (53 %) anketirancev meni, da nima dovolj strokovnega znanja s področja terapevtske komunikacije, 19 (63 %) si tako želi pridobiti še dodatnih znaj. Rezultati so nam tudi pokazali, da 17 (57 %) anketiranih pozna nevladno humanitarno organizacijo Hospic in njeno delovanje, svojcem pa le redko svetuje 10 (33 %) anketirancev, da naj se vključijo vanjo. Razprava in zaključek: Izvajalci zdravstvene nege so lahko svojcem umirajočega bolnika v veliko pomoč, če znajo uporabiti pravilne tehnike komuniciranja. Za njih je komunikacija s svojci velikokrat stresna vendar se ji žal ne morejo izogniti, ker je to del njihovega poklica. V pomoč jim je lahko tudi društvo Hospic, ki je namenjeno tako svojcem umrlega kot tudi izvajalcem zdravstvene nege.Theoretical starting points: Communication with the relatives of a dying patient is very demanding for providers of health care because it causes additional workload and stress. Having a straight forward conversation with the relatives results in distress and problems. Many times health care providers are faced with fear of being questioned by the relatives and their reactions. Methodology: In my diploma paper, we focused on special features of communication with the relatives of a dying patient. We have also presented a non-governmental humanitarian organisation Hospic and its operation. The research questioned health care workers whether they find working with the relatives of dying patientsstressful and burdening, to what extent the health care providers are aware of the specific communication with the relatives of a dying patient, and whether they are aware of a non-governmental humanitarian organisation Hospic. The research is based on quantitative methodology. A questionnaire, which was constructed for this purpose, was used to collect data. The survey was carried out in General Hospital Ptuj (Splošna bolnišnica Ptuj), in the internal medicine department, where 30 randomly chosen health care providers were questioned. Results: The resultsof the survey showed that 23 (77 %) respondents find communicating with the relatives of a dying patient additional burden and stress, 13 (44 % ) respondents would rather avoid communicating with the relatives. 16 (53 %) of respondents believe they do not have the professional knowledge regarding therapeutic communication, while 19 (63 %)want to acquire additional knowledge. The results also showed 17 (57 %) respondents are aware of anon-governmental humanitarian organisation Hospic and its operation, but 10 (33 %) respondents rarely advise the relatives to join the organisation. Discussion and conclusion: Health care providers can be of great help to the relatives of a dying patient provided they can use the appropriate techniques of communication. Communication with the relatives is very stressful, however, it cannot be avoided as a part their profession. Health care providers can find assistance in Hospic organisation, which helps the relatives of a dying patient, as well as, health care providers