I End-of-Iife sedation remains a controversial and ill-defined clinical practice; its applications vary considerably. With this in mind, a study was conducted using a 2 x 2 experimental design. The variables experimented with were prognosis (short-or long-term) and type of suffering (physical or existential). The goal was to study the influence of the two independent variables on attitude toward sedation. Four clinical vignettes were completed by 124 clinicians, doctors, and pharmacists working in different palliative care environments in the Province of Q~e bec. The results indicate that the type of suffering influences a subject's attitude to end-of-Iife sedation. Thus, when a patient was suffering physically, .the respondents were significantly in favour of sedation, whereas they were not in favour of this practice if the suffering was existential. Lastly, it is clear that hea!th professionals are uncomfortable.when~on!ronte~With their patients' existential suffering. This IS an Issue worth exploring in future studies.
In line with the philosophy of palliative care, the project demonstrated that the integration of the humanbecoming approach can result in changes that contribute to the development of a more person-centered practice.
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