Improving the quality of end-of-life (EOL) care in critical care settings is a high priority. Patients with
advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are frequently admitted to and die in critical care units. To date, there has been
little research examining the quality of EOL care for this unique subpopulation of critical care patients.
Aims: The aims of this study were (a) to examine critical care clinician perspectives on the quality of dying of patients with COPD and
(b) to compare nurse ratings of the quality of dying and death between patients with COPD with those who died from other illnesses in
critical care settings.