TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - 'Mum, I think we might ring the ambulance, okay?' A qualitative exploration of bereaved family members' experiences of emergency ambulance care at the end of life
JO  - Palliative medicine
A1  - Anderson, Natalie Elizabeth
A1  - Robinson, Jackie
A1  - Goodwin, Hetty
A1  - Gott, Merryn
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: In the context of a sudden or unexpected event, people with a life-limiting illness and their family caregivers may be dependent on emergency ambulance services. <br><br>AIM: To explore bereaved family members' experiences of emergency ambulance care at the end of life. <br><br>DESIGN: A qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis of data collected from semi-structured phone interviews. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 38 family caregivers identified from a database of deaths in Aotearoa, New Zealand. <br><br>RESULTS: Emergency ambulance personnel assist, inform and reassure patients and family caregivers managing distressing symptoms, falls, infections, unexpected events and death itself. Family members and patients are aware of the pressure on emergency services and sometimes hesitate to call an ambulance. Associating ambulances with unwanted transport to hospital is also a source of reluctance. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The generalist palliative care provided by emergency ambulance personnel is a vital service for patients in the last year of life, and their caregivers. This must be acknowledged in palliative care policy and supported with training, specialist consultation and adequate resources.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0269-2163
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/02692163221118204
ID  - ref1
ER  -