Research update: Uncertainty in advanced illness
26th May 2016
Uncertainty in advanced illness is common and affects patients and their families in several ways. The impact of uncertainty can lead to poor patient outcomes.
Researchers at the Cicely Saunders Institute looked at 30 in-depth interviews with people suffering from a range of advanced illnesses to discover how they responded to uncertainty. The group included patients with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disease, cancer and liver failure. The patients were aged between 43 and 95.
Researchers found 3 factors affecting how people respond to uncertainty: information needs; engagement with healthcare; focus on the present day versus the future. Assessment of these factors may a useful starting point for clinical assessment and shared decision-making.
These findings will help healthcare professionals understand what is important to their patients in situations of uncertainty and so be better prepared to meet their needs.
Etkind SN, Bristowe K, Bailey K, Selman LE, Murtagh FE. How does uncertainty shape patient experience in advanced illness? A secondary analysis of qualitative data. Palliat Med. 2016. doi: 10.1177/0269216316647610
Read the full article (open access) here