ABSTRACT Families play important roles in transitions to end-of-life care, yet we know little about
the social relations between doctors and families at the point of referral to specialist palliative care.
In this study, we explore how medical specialists negotiated the transition to specialist palliative care
with families. Drawing on data from 20 qualitative interviews, we examine data accounts about
the roles of family members in discussions with clinical specialists about palliative care, and how
families shape interpersonal dynamics. Our results indicate that families fulfil important ‘functions’
and ‘roles’ in these delicate and emotionally laden conversations. Specialists’ accounts articulated
referral processes as distinctly relational moments, with families viewed as potential ‘resources’ but
also as ‘complications’, in attempts to encourage the ‘smooth’ transition to end-of-life care. On the
basis of these results, we argue that further attention should be paid to the centrality of families in
key moments in care (and communication therein) and how they may be utilised, managed and
experienced by a range of health professionals
ABSTRACT Families play important roles in transitions to end-of-life care, yet we know little aboutthe social relations between doctors and families at the point of referral to specialist palliative care.In this study, we explore how medical specialists negotiated the transition to specialist palliative carewith families. Drawing on data from 20 qualitative interviews, we examine data accounts aboutthe roles of family members in discussions with clinical specialists about palliative care, and howfamilies shape interpersonal dynamics. Our results indicate that families fulfil important ‘functions’and ‘roles’ in these delicate and emotionally laden conversations. Specialists’ accounts articulatedreferral processes as distinctly relational moments, with families viewed as potential ‘resources’ butalso as ‘complications’, in attempts to encourage the ‘smooth’ transition to end-of-life care. On thebasis of these results, we argue that further attention should be paid to the centrality of families inkey moments in care (and communication therein) and how they may be utilised, managed andexperienced by a range of health professionals
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