Clinical applicability of the terminological subset of palliative care for dignified dying*

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical applicability of the terminological subset of the international classification for the nursing practice of palliative care for a dignified dying, in oncology. Method: Prospective study evaluating the clinical applicability of 33 nursing diagnoses/outcomes and 220 nursing interventions. It used case studies of 20 cancer patients undergoing palliation. The nursing process steps were operated by two nurses. Descriptive statistics was used to present, according to the theoretical model, the nursing diagnoses/outcomes and interventions identified in the patients. All statements identified in patients at some point during care were considered applicable in clinical practice. Results: Twenty-nine nursing diagnoses/outcomes and 197 nursing interventions from the subset were identified. Conclusion: In the context of palliative care in patients with cancer, the clinical applicability of 87.8% of the diagnoses/outcomes and 89.5% of the interventions that make up the palliative care terminological subset for dignified dying is affirmed.