The Effectiveness of Symptom Management in Hospice Patients During the Last Seven Days of Life

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Abstract
PURPOSE. To identify the most common symptoms experienced by hospice patients in the last 7 days of life, to ascertain the interventions used to treat the symptoms, and to examine the effectiveness of the interventions. METHODS. A descriptive, correlational design was used. Data were collected via a retrospective chart review (N = 100). FINDINGS. Hospice patients in this study experienced a wide variety of symptoms. Most common were pain, dyspnea, lethargy, dysphagia, and terminal congestion. Interventions used for the symptoms were almost exclusively pharmacologic. Lack of documentation made the effectiveness of interventions difficult to determine. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS. Good symptom control is an essential component of quality end-of-life care. Only when pain and other symptoms are well controlled can patients focus on important issues such as emotional, spiritual, and social needs. Nurses are an essential link in the quest to provide high quality end-of-life care. Search terms: End of life, hospice, palliative care, symptom control, symptom management

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