Burdens and Resources of Staff of a Specialized Ward for Neuropalliative Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Palliative care adds significant burdens to healthcare workers. In neuropalliative care (NPC), additional challenges include patient symptom burdens, such as impairments in mobility, cognition, and communication. After one year of operating the first NPC ward in Germany, we assessed burdens, resources, and the number of deaths perceived as stressful. NPC physicians and nursing staff were compared with the team of other neurological wards, including a stroke unit. The assessment took place between March 2022 and May 2022. All 64 team members were contacted; the responder rate was 81%. The perceived burden was high but did not differ between groups. There were no differences between the NPC- and the neurological wards in the number of deaths perceived as stressful. However, rather than the number of deaths, the circumstances of dying influence the perceived distress. The resources mentioned were similar between groups, with the team and private life being most important. Communication difficulties were frequently cited as stressful, whereas successful communication was identified as a resource.

Automated summary

Palliative care poses significant burdens to healthcare workers, with additional challenges in neuropalliative care including patient symptom burdens and impairments. Results of the study showed that NPC physicians and nursing staff did not differ significantly from other neurological wards in terms of perceived burden and stressful deaths, with the circumstances of dying impacting distress perception. Resources mentioned were similar between groups, with team support and personal life being most important. Communication difficulties were often cited as stressful, while successful communication was seen as a valuable resource.