Nursing diagnoses clusters: survival and comfort in oncology end-of-life care

Abstract

Background: Holistic care and nursing diagnoses are essential in end-of-life, since interventions based on these ensure greater patient comfort and quality of life. Aims: To identify clusters of nursing diagnoses and repercussions for patient comfort and survival. Methods: A prospective cohort of 66 end-of-life patients with cancer was examined. Diagnostic groupings were created based on the Kolcaba's theory of comfort. Pearson's chi-square test and Kaplan–Meier estimator were used to assess the relationship between clusters, comfort, and survival. Findings: Three diagnostic groups and 23 nurse diagnoses were used. The first and most prevalent diagnosis cluster was related to intestinal tract disorders and sleep. The second was related to neuropsychological characteristics and fatigue associated with lower survival, while the third cluster was related to functionality and perception, which was shown to be associated with less comfort. Conclusion: The three clusters were significantly associated with comfort and survival.