Terminal Restlessness in the Dying: Hospice Attitudes and Practice

Abstract

An exploratory study was conducted to ascertain hospice attitudes and practices related to terminal restlessness, a syndrome found in an estimated 1 to 2 percent of dying patients (Kaye, 1997). Three hundred two participating hospices responded to survey questions. Chi-square analyses were conducted to explore frequency differences between the independent variable, utilization of a terminal restlessness tool, and each of the dependent variables: location, census, utilization of a treatment protocol, and number of cases of terminal restlessness reported. Chi-square analysis was also conducted to explore a frequency difference between the independent variable, average daily census, and the dependent variable, number of cases of terminal restlessness reported. With the exception of two predicted relationships, there were no significant differences in the proportion of responses between the independent and dependent variables. Implications of these results for hospice attitudes and practice are discussed. Suggestions are made for standardization of identification, assessment, and treatment of terminal restlessness.