Improving end-of-life care through interprofessional collaboration with death doulas: Implications for oncology nurses
Date
2022
Authors
Holtslander, Lorraine
Hall, Steven
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Oncology Nursing Society
ORCID
Type
Conference Proceeding and Abstract
Degree Level
Abstract
The end-of-life or death doula is an emerging, grass- roots role, making its mark in hospice palliative care in seeking to support people and families during the dying process. Doulas offer a community-based, non-medicalized approach to care that is holistic and person-centred. Exploring and understanding the interprofessional, collaborative roles of oncology nurses and the death doula could optimize patient and family-centred care and improve outcomes at the end of life. However, there are significant implications for oncology nurses to accompany this new and upcoming paraprofessional role. A scoping review, applying the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s Square of Care as a conceptual framework, was completed to describe the opportunities for collaboration as death doulas become part of the team providing end-of-life care. Despite the presence of death doulas, oncology nurses are responsible for assessing the patient’s status and well-being. Information-sharing is central to interprofessional collaboration, but oncology nurses must take sensitive measures to maintain the patient’s confidentiality and trust when communicating with death doulas. In decision-making processes, nursing knowledge can guide patients in their choices, as well as death doulas. At the same time, it is paramount that the oncology nurse advocates for evidence-based decisions. The plan of care at the end of life must view the individual holistically. Oncology nurses and death doulas can complement each other in their holistic approach to client care. Regarding care delivery, oncology nurses play a medicalized role in care, guided by the philosophy of nursing and person-centred care. Death doulas serve to develop a relationship with the dying person that transcends their illness, further highlight- ing how the two can complement one another. Lastly, confirmation involves the clients’ understanding of the goals of care. While death doulas can advocate for com- prehension, oncology nurses can promote health literacy. Death doulas are an emerging role with the potential to make a significant impact at the end of life. Therefore, healthcare professionals should focus efforts on integrating death doulas into the interprofessional care team; however, oncology nurses’ understanding of the death doula role is critical to providing quality end-of-life care in parallel. Death doulas offer an innovative, non-medical approach to providing support and comfort, while facilitating person-centred death and dying.
Description
Keywords
end of life, oncology, oncology nursing, death doulas, supportive care
Citation
Holtslander, L., & Hall, S. (2022). Improving end-of-life care through interprofessional collaboration with death doulas: Implications for oncology nurses [Abstract]. Oncology Nursing Forum, 49(2), E26. https://doi.org/10.1188/22.ONF.E2
Degree
Department
Program
Advisor
Committee
Citation
Holtslander, L., & Hall, S. (2022). Improving end-of-life care through interprofessional collaboration with death doulas: Implications for oncology nurses [Abstract]. Oncology Nursing Forum, 49(2), E26. https://doi.org/10.1188/22.ONF.E2
Part Of
47th Annual ONS Congress
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DOI
10.1188/22.ONF.E2