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Pittsburg State University

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Full-Text Articles in Respiratory Therapy

The Decision Of Families And Hospice Nurses On Use Of Oxygen Therapy At End Of Life, Mary Gathoni, Janis Schiefelbein Apr 2019

The Decision Of Families And Hospice Nurses On Use Of Oxygen Therapy At End Of Life, Mary Gathoni, Janis Schiefelbein

Posters

Minimal research efforts have focused on why family members make the decision to use oxygen therapy for their loved one at end of life, and the thoughts of hospice nurses who recommend the use of oxygen. Many families and nurses believe the use of oxygen therapy in palliative care is a practice endorsed by the medical community. However, this is inconsistent with existing knowledge that oxygen use at end of life contributes to comfort and decreases breathlessness or dyspnea. Dyspnea, the sensation of breathlessness or inadequate breathing, is common for patients with end of life illnesses. Dyspnea occurs when an …