• Weilin Chen, Joyce Oi Kwan Chung, Katherine Ka Wai Lam, and Alex Molassiotis.
• School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
• Palliat Med. 2023 Jan 1; 37 (1): 617461-74.

BackgroundTimely and effective communication about end-of-life issues, including conversations about prognosis and goals of care, are extremely beneficial to terminally ill patients and their families. However, given the context, healthcare professionals may find it challenging to initiate and facilitate such conversations. Hence, it is critical to improving the available communication strategies to enhance end-of-life communication practices.AimTo summarise the end-of-life communication strategies recommended for healthcare professionals, identify research gaps and inform future research.DesignA scoping review performed in accordance with the Arksey and O'Malley framework.Data SourcesA literature search was conducted between January 1990 and January 2022 using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases and Google, Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Studies that described recommended end-of-life communication strategies for healthcare professionals were included.ResultsFifty-nine documents were included. Seven themes of communication strategies were found: (a) preparation; (b) exploration and assessment; (c) family involvement; (d) provision and tailoring of information; (e) empathic emotional responses; (f) reframing and revisiting the goals of care; and (g) conversation closure.ConclusionsThe themes of communication strategies found in this review provide a framework to integrally promote end-of-life communication. Our results will help inform healthcare professionals, thereby promoting the development of specialised training and education on end-of-life communication.

12 keywords...

hide…