![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif)
Family Physicians' Involvement With Dying Patients and Their FamiliesAttitudes, Difficulties, and Strategies
Dov Steinmetz, MD;
Michelle Walsh, PhD, RN;
Lawrence L. Gabel, PhD;
P. Tennyson Williams, MD
Arch Fam Med. 1993;2(7):753-760.
Abstract
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) | ![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
Objective To determine family physicians' perceptions of the difficulty in caring for dying patients and how prepared they are to provide such care relative to strategies used with difficulties encountered, personal need for support and development, and cooperation with other caregivers.
Design Exploratory.
Setting Physicians' offices.
Subjects Thirty-five randomly selected family physicians (doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy) representative of family physicians practicing in Franklin County, Ohio.
Interventions None.
Major Outcome Measures A semistructured interview guide corresponding to a three-dimensional theoretical model developed prior to the study was used to determine family physicians' perceptions regarding care of dying patients and their families. The three dimensions include family physicians' involvement with dying patients and their families, their personal needs and development, and their cooperation with other caregivers.
Results Participants agreed that the care of dying patients and their families is an important and special component of practicing family medicine. Generally seeing themselves as adequately prepared, they still found such care difficult and desired more education and training to increase comfort of their patients and of themselves. Their perceptions regarding the care of dying patients and their families could be categorized in terms of communication as part of the care process, family issues, legal and ethical issues, coordination of care, physicians' feelings, and physicians' influence and support.
Conclusions Family physicians require formal training in death issues and need to find a way to maximize learning through personal experiences. Discussion of cases in a support group may be beneficial.
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine (Drs Steinmetz, Gabel, and Williams) and the Department of Family and Community, College of Nursing (Dr Walsh), The Ohio State University, Columbus. Dr Steinmetz is now in private practice and associated with the Central Emek Hospital, Alfu, Israel.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
Death-Talks: Transformative Learning for Physicians
Moon
AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE 2008;25:271-277.
ABSTRACT
Care at the End of Life: Focus on Communication and Race
Zapka et al.
J Aging Health 2006;18:791-813.
ABSTRACT
Teaching End-of-Life Issues in US Medical Schools: 1975 to 2005.
Dickinson
AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE 2006;23:197-204.
ABSTRACT
Hospice and primary care physicians: Attitudes, knowledge, and barriers
Ogle et al.
AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE 2003;20:41-51.
ABSTRACT
How well do general practitioners deliver palliative care? A systematic review
Mitchell
Palliat Med 2002;16:457-464.
ABSTRACT
The difficult patient' as perceived by family physicians
Steinmetz and Tabenkin
Fam Pract 2001;18:495-500.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
End-of-Life Care Content in 50 Textbooks From Multiple Specialties
Rabow et al.
JAMA 2000;283:771-778.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Prevalence and Patterns of Physician Referral to Clergy and Pastoral Care Providers
Daaleman and Frey
Arch Fam Med 1998;7:548-553.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Treating the Dying Patient: The Challenge for Medical Education
Hill
Arch Intern Med 1995;155:1265-1269.
ABSTRACT
|