The incidence of deathbed communications and their impact on the dying process.
Madelaine Lawrence, Elizabeth Repede
The American journal of hospice & palliative care November 1, 2013 DOI: 10.1177/1049909112467529 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractHospice chart audits and a survey of hospice nurses across the United States show that deathbed communications (DBCs) occur in the 30 days before death and are associated with a more peaceful dying process. Chart audits found that only 5 of 60 records (8.33%) included descriptions of DBCs, while 75 nurses reported 363 incidences, averaging 4.8 per nurse per 30 days. Of the nurses surveyed, 89% reported that patients who experienced a DBC had a peaceful and calm death, compared with 40.5% for those without a DBC. These communications positively impact the dying process but are underreported in patient records and textbooks.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 135 |
| Population | Hospice patients and hospice nurses across the United States |
| Duration | 30 days before death |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Deathbed communication Deathbed phenomena Deathbed visions End of life |
| Key finding | Deathbed communications are associated with a peaceful and calm death in 89% of cases, compared to 40.5% without such communications, yet they are underreported in patient records. |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of deathbed communications (DBCs) during the 30 days before death and their impact on the dying process. A total of 60 hospice chart audits and 75 survey responses by hospice nurses across the United States were analyzed. Chart audits revealed 5 (8.33%) of the 60 included descriptions of DBCs. The survey of 75 hospice nurses identified 363 incidences of DBCs, with an average of 4.8 patient occurrences per nurse per 30 days. In all, 89% of the hospice nurses reported patients who experienced a DBC had a peaceful and calm death, with only 40.5% reporting a peaceful and calm death without the DBC. These DBCs have a positive impact on the dying process but are underreported in patient records and under described in textbooks.