| Title: | DocViewsCAHEOL – Doctors’ views and experiences of assisted hydration at the end of life: a qualitative study |
| Project Description: | The decision of whether or not to hydrate patients close to the end of their lives by subcutaneous or intravenous infusion “drip” (assisted hydration) is an issue of concern to patients, family members and healthcare professionals. The issues include concerns over patients suffering from dehydration or thirst, medicalising the normal physiological processes of dying and the locations in which assisted hydration can be administered. We are currently undertaking a systematic literature review which is highlighting that while several quantitative surveys have investigated healthcare professionals’ attitudes to AH, no study to date has investigated their views and experiences in depth with a qualitative study.
Healthcare professionals are having to make decisions concerning assisted hydration at the end of life in this environment of uncertainty. This study will investigate how professionals view this topic, their experiences in clinical practise and their experiences of communication with patients and family caregivers about this emotive topic in the context of such uncertainty. |
| Funder information: | NIHR via Academic Clinical Fellowship |
| Other Collaborators: | Dr Stephen Barclay Dr Anna Spathis |
| Project organisation | |
| Start date: | 1st September 2019 |
| End date: | 31st August 2021 |
| Contact person: | Dr Arjun Kingdon |
| Contact Details: | Email: adnk2@medschl.cam.ac.uk |
| Further Information, References and Publications | |