“A dignified and peaceful death”: Multidimensional perspectives from patients, caregivers and physicians in Mexican palliative care”
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Although prior research has identified common attributes of a Good Death across cultures, few studies have simultaneously incorporated the views of patients, family caregivers, and physicians - particularly in Latin America, where structural barriers to palliative care persist. This study examines how these stakeholders in Mexico perceive and designate what constitutes a Good Death, aiming to identify its core components and cultural particularities. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 advanced-stage oncologic and nononcologic patients receiving home-based palliative care, 12 family caregivers, and 21 physicians. Data were analyzed using principles of generic purposive sampling and thematic analysis. RESULTS: The most frequent designation for a Good Death was "Dignified and Peaceful Death," perceived as a multidimensional and multitemporal process. Five core domains emerged: physical, psychological, interpersonal, spiritual, and structural. These dimensions manifested across distinct phases - before death (as preparation), during death, and after death. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: A Dignified and Peaceful Death begins when individuals become aware of their mortality and encompasses cultural, emotional, and structural elements that transcend physical death. This perspective suggests that end-of-life care should respond not only to biomedical needs but also to broader existential and relational dimensions that shape patient and family experiences in resource-limited settings.
Source: Palliative & Supportive Care
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W7117311430