Compromised end-of-life syndrome in cancer patients: A clinical validation study

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the prevalence of the nursing diagnosis of compromised end-of-life syndrome in patients in end-of-life care. Methods: This is a clinical validation based on a cross-sectional epidemiological clinical study conducted at the National Cancer Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The defining characteristics of a syndrome diagnosis were identified, defined as a “subset of nursing diagnoses,” using sensitivity and specificity measures through the application of latent class statistical methods. Findings: The statistical results revealed seven nursing diagnoses characterizing the syndrome: imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements, nausea, anxiety, ineffective breathing pattern, disturbed sleep pattern, ineffective thermoregulation, and fatigue. Compromised end-of-life syndrome was present in 76% of the sample. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the presence of compromised end-of-life syndrome in most end-of-life patients from the sample. Implications for nursing practice: Recognizing the presence of the syndrome diagnosis enables nurses to have efficient and effective clinical reasoning for implementing the nursing process in palliative care. CAAE Number: 85415618.0.3001.5274.