ArticleBMC psychology2020
Understanding relatives' experience of death rattle.
Article in BMC psychology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trial
- Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Victoria Respiratory Congestion Scale into Spanish.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Nursing contribution to end-of-life care decision-making in patients with neurological diseases on an acute hospital ward: documentation of signs and symptoms.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- Management of Physical Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Cancer during the Last Weeks and Days of Life.Cancer research and treatment · 2022Review
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundDeath rattle is a frequently occurring symptom in the last phase of life. The experience of death rattle of relatives has been found to vary. It is unclear if treatment with medication is useful. The most fitting solution for this symptom is still under debate.
aimThis study aims to better understand the experience of relatives of their loved ones' death rattle.
designA qualitative interview study with a phenomenological approach was performed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews which were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
participantsNineteen family members of 15 patients were interviewed.
resultsMost relatives had experienced death rattle as a distressing symptom. Concerns about how long the rattling would last resulted in more distress. Experience of death rattle was less fierce when other symptoms such as pain or dyspnea prevailed. Hearing the sound of death rattle sometimes reminded relatives of previously witnessed dying trajectories, which seemed to increase their current level of distress. The experience of death rattle is not always influenced by the amount and quality of information given about the symptom.
conclusionDeath rattle is a stressful symptom and the experience of relatives is influenced by more factors than the sound itself. Communication and information alone seem inefficient to address relatives' distress. The best approach for dealing with this symptom is unclear. Further research needs to show if prophylactically given drugs may be helpful in its prevention.
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