Navigating the Intangible

Working With Nonphysical Suffering on the Front Lines of Palliative Care

Bibliographic Data

ID13628357
AuthorsMaxxine Rattner (0000-0001-6656-3488, Wilfrid Laurier University, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume81
Issue4
Pages670-684
Publication date2018-09-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0030222818797171
PMID30185114
OpenAlexW2889599471
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited18

While relieving suffering is palliative care's primary aim, how palliative care providers navigate patients' nonphysical suffering in their day-to-day work and the impact of working with nonphysical suffering on the clinician have been understudied. This exploratory study aims to begin to fill this gap in the literature. Results revealed that palliative care clinicians face several challenges in their efforts to navigate patients' nonphysical suffering in their day-to-day work, including (a) the intangible nature of nonphysical suffering, (b) systemic barriers (e.g., lack of time and adequate resources), (c) clinician helplessness or suffering, and (d) a lack of education, training, and support for clinicians specific to their work with patients' nonphysical suffering. Study outcomes have the potential to improve frontline clinical care with patients and support and education for clinicians

Exploratory research · Face (sociological concept · Learned helplessness · Palliative care · Sociology · Work (physics · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Patient Dignity and Privacy · Psychology

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