Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
-
Multicenter Study
Sedatives and Sedation at the End of Life in Nursing Homes: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.
There is scarce information about sedation in nursing homes at the end of life. We aimed to assess (1) the use of sedatives generally and "sedatives with continuous effect," based on objective operational criteria, within the last week of life in nursing homes and (2) factors associated with this treatment. ⋯ Our data indicate a lower prevalence of sedation compared to international data and considerable differences regarding prevalence between institutions. These differences, potential setting-specific challenges, and need for support measures for consistent best practice of sedation in nursing homes should be further explored.