Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41781933›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2026

Enacting compassionate care at the end-of-life in long-term care: a qualitative interpretive study.

Stephanie Lucchese, Julia Magcalas, Tamara Sussman, Paulette V Hunter, Abigail Wickson-Griffiths, Genevieve Thompson, Lorraine Venturato, Vanessa Maradiaga Rivas, Sharon Kaasalainen

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Stephanie LuccheseGladys Sharpe Chair in Nursing, School of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 3Z1, Canada. lucchess@mcmaster.ca.
Julia MagcalasGladys Sharpe Chair in Nursing, School of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 3Z1, Canada.
Tamara SussmanFaculty of Arts, School of Social Work, McGill University, QC, 3506 University St, H3A 2A7, Montreal, Canada.
Paulette V HunterSt. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W6, Canada.
Abigail Wickson-GriffithsFaculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada.
Genevieve ThompsonCollege of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Lorraine VenturatoChair in Gerontology, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2800 University Way NW, Professional Faculties Building Rm 228, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Vanessa Maradiaga RivasMcMaster University, ON, 1280 Main Street West, L0R 1P0, Hamilton, Canada.
Sharon KaasalainenGladys Sharpe Chair in Nursing, School of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 3Z1, Canada.

Funding

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Grant No. 10012108Manitoba Health Research Council Grant No. PHE-141804Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 06718Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Grant No. 3316
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundApproximately one-quarter of the Canadian population will die in long-term care (LTC) homes, highlighting the importance of improving end-of-life (EOL) care in these settings. There is a growing recognition of the need to integrate palliative approach to care in these settings. Central to this approach is compassionate care, which supports the emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of residents and their families at EOL. Compassion is fundamental to person-centered care and plays a critical role in shaping how staff and families experience dying, death and bereavement. Compassion in LTC settings fosters connection, meaning and dignity at the EOL. This study explored the perceptions of nurses and bereaved family members regarding their experiences with EOL and bereavement practices, and how enacting compassionate care supported residents dying in LTC homes across Canada.

methodsThis qualitative study was conducted across four LTC homes in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Using an interpretive qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with LTC nurses and bereaved family caregivers to examine how compassionate care is practiced in LTC settings. The analysis focused on how acts of compassion support both staff and family caregivers during the EOL process and contribute to the experience of a “good death” for residents.

resultsA total of 26 family members and 13 LTC staff were interviewed. Three major themes emerged: (1) nurturing compassionate care within relationships, (2) integrating family as a team member to promote compassionate care, and (3) sustaining compassionate care practices in LTC. Several subthemes further elaborated on these core findings.

conclusionCompassionate care is an essential and highly valued component of EOL care in LTC settings. Findings highlight the importance of supporting compassionate care as an integral part of a palliative approach to care, emphasizing the need for system wide initiatives to sustain and enhance such practices in LTC settings. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable.

Indexed as

EmpathyLong-Term CareTerminal CareAlbertaCanadaFemaleHumansMaleManitobaMiddle AgedOntarioQualitative ResearchSaskatchewancompassionate careend-of-lifefamilylong-term carenursespalliative approachpalliative care

Identifiers

PMID41781933
PMCPMC13067408

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.