“Hanging in a balance”: A qualitative study exploring clinicians’ experiences of providing care at the end of life in the burn unit

SAGE Palliative Medicine & Chronic Care

This episode features Jonathan Bayuo (Presbyterian University College, Abetifi, Eastern, Ghana and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong). The immediacy of death in the burn unit is usually in the order of hours or days requiring the timely application of palliative care. Although the culture of burns/ critical care units is evolving the support the integration of palliative care, several barriers such as prognostication and lack of guidelines exist. Clinicians working in burn/ critical care units may experience emotional exhaustion The findings suggest a complex decision-making process which may delay the initiation of comfort care. Collaboration with palliative care practitioners and training are required to support the integration of palliative care in the burn unit. Guidelines to support the delivery of palliative care may focus on communication, symptom management, and post-bereavement support for families and staff. A collaborative model of care is required to support palliative care integration in the burn unit. Palliative care for severely burned patients may need to commence alongside active burns management.