End-of-Life Dreams and Visions: Initial Guidelines and Recommendations to Support Dreams and Visions at the End of Life
Pei C. Grant, Kathryn Levy, Jonathan L. Rossi, Tahleen A. Lattimer
Abstract
Background:End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are a common phenomenon in which dying patients experience dreams/visions often of deceased loved ones before death. Past research has highlighted the need for education and awareness to improve clinical engagement at the bedside in response to ELDVs. Objectives:To explore the perspectives of multidisciplinary hospice care providers who are ELDV subject matter experts. Design/Methods:Semi-structured interviews with 13 multidisciplinary hospice providers were conducted and analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. Results:Analysis revealed six themes: Normalization, Rapport Building, Active Listening, Individualized Meaning Making, Barriers, and Education. A secondary thematic analysis focused on defining/describing ELDVs and resulted in two themes: Natural Part of Dying and ELDV Properties. Conclusions:Findings identified facilitators and barriers encountered when caring for a patient with ELDVs. Based on this, an initial set of recommendations for meaningful clinical engagement regarding ELDVs and initial operationalized definition has been proposed.