National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis

Objectives This study aims to understand the breadth of practice around end-of-life withdrawal of non-invasive advanced respiratory support (encompassing both continuous positive airway pressure and non-invasive ventilation) by analysing NHS-published guidelines and guidance for clinicians. This stu...

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Main Authors: David Wenzel, Thomas Jeffery, Christina Faull, Rachel Davies, Eleanor Wilson, Jennifer Creese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-10-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e089617.full
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author David Wenzel
Thomas Jeffery
Christina Faull
Rachel Davies
Eleanor Wilson
Jennifer Creese
author_facet David Wenzel
Thomas Jeffery
Christina Faull
Rachel Davies
Eleanor Wilson
Jennifer Creese
author_sort David Wenzel
collection DOAJ
description Objectives This study aims to understand the breadth of practice around end-of-life withdrawal of non-invasive advanced respiratory support (encompassing both continuous positive airway pressure and non-invasive ventilation) by analysing NHS-published guidelines and guidance for clinicians. This study seeks validity in the guidelines through a confluence of findings and reassurance of practice despite having little to no high-quality research to inform the content of the guidelines. Ultimately, where discordance is found between guidelines, there will be a strong mandate for future research.Methods Guidelines were gathered through snowball sampling and analysed using document analysis techniques. Analysis was mixed in inductive and deductive and facilitated across several authors using framework analysis. 20 guidelines were analysed but saturation was found after 15. Further guidelines were analysed beyond saturation to provide reassurance of the endpoint of the study.Results There were common components to the guidelines presented as themes: legal and ethical frameworks, decision-making around withdrawal, the process of withdrawal, post-withdrawal care and when to contact palliative care. There were significant areas of confluence, where multiple guidelines were in agreement on best practice. However, there was significant discordance in some key areas including the use of post-withdrawal oxygen therapy and pressure weaning practice.Conclusion This study provides reassurance through a confluence of findings for the majority of withdrawal practices. However, key areas of discordance highlight an urgent need for further research to support clinicians, patients and their families during challenging clinical events.
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spelling doaj-art-a42ff62d31a847e485fbf2a1a46cb2bc2025-08-20T02:12:46ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-10-01141010.1136/bmjopen-2024-089617National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysisDavid Wenzel0Thomas Jeffery1Christina Faull2Rachel Davies3Eleanor Wilson4Jennifer Creese5Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK1 Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation, Neonatal Research Unit, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaLOROS, Leicester, UKUK Palliative Care Reseach Collaborative, Bristol, UKSchool of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UKPopulation Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UKObjectives This study aims to understand the breadth of practice around end-of-life withdrawal of non-invasive advanced respiratory support (encompassing both continuous positive airway pressure and non-invasive ventilation) by analysing NHS-published guidelines and guidance for clinicians. This study seeks validity in the guidelines through a confluence of findings and reassurance of practice despite having little to no high-quality research to inform the content of the guidelines. Ultimately, where discordance is found between guidelines, there will be a strong mandate for future research.Methods Guidelines were gathered through snowball sampling and analysed using document analysis techniques. Analysis was mixed in inductive and deductive and facilitated across several authors using framework analysis. 20 guidelines were analysed but saturation was found after 15. Further guidelines were analysed beyond saturation to provide reassurance of the endpoint of the study.Results There were common components to the guidelines presented as themes: legal and ethical frameworks, decision-making around withdrawal, the process of withdrawal, post-withdrawal care and when to contact palliative care. There were significant areas of confluence, where multiple guidelines were in agreement on best practice. However, there was significant discordance in some key areas including the use of post-withdrawal oxygen therapy and pressure weaning practice.Conclusion This study provides reassurance through a confluence of findings for the majority of withdrawal practices. However, key areas of discordance highlight an urgent need for further research to support clinicians, patients and their families during challenging clinical events.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e089617.full
spellingShingle David Wenzel
Thomas Jeffery
Christina Faull
Rachel Davies
Eleanor Wilson
Jennifer Creese
National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
BMJ Open
title National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
title_full National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
title_fullStr National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
title_full_unstemmed National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
title_short National review of end-of-life care withdrawal guidelines for non-invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
title_sort national review of end of life care withdrawal guidelines for non invasive advanced respiratory support using document analysis
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e089617.full
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