Care of the dying stroke patient in the acute setting

Abstract

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in England and Wales, accounting for 11% of all deaths. Predictors of early mortality following stroke have been known for over a century and include a history of stroke, age, disorientation to time and place and level of consciousness. To date, hospices and specialist palliative care services have focused on caring for terminally ill cancer patients, with 95% of their patients in 2000–2001 having cancer. However it has been acknowledged since its inception that the practices and principles of palliative care may be relevant to those dying from other conditions. Recently there has been a growing interest in palliative care for non-cancer diagnosis and increasing recognition that palliative care should be provided on the basis of need rather than diagnosis. Despite the high levels of mortality following stroke, to date, little has been published about dying from stroke. In this study we report on a prospective qualitative study of the nursing and medical care received by dying stroke patients.