In search of care strategies for distressed people with communication difficulties and a learning disability in palliative care settings: the lived experiences of registered learning disability nurses and palliative care professionals

摘要

Aims: The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth phenomenological understanding of the care strategies used by registered learning disability nurses (RNLDs) and palliative care professionals (PCPs) to identify and respond to the distress of people with communication difficulties and a learning disability (PCDLD) in palliative care settings. The objective was to critically explore the lived experiences of RNLDs and PCPs who care for distressed PCDLD in palliative care settings. Methods: A single-phase hermeneutic phenomenological study following Van Manen provided the framework for the synthesis and structuring of the hermeneutic phenomenological text. Participants were drawn from learning disability nursing homes, community learning disabilities teams and hospices. Purposive sampling was used, and 13 participants comprising eight RNLDs and five PCPs were interviewed. Data were collected by semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews, field notes and a demographic questionnaire.