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How Do Surgeons Experience and Cope with the Death and Dying of Their Patients? A Qualitative Study in the Context of Life-limiting Illnesses

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Abstract

Background

The present qualitative study explores surgeons’ experiences and coping mechanisms with the death of their patients in the context of life-limiting illnesses.

Methods

Nine Australian surgeons participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis of the interview transcriptions allowed for identification of themes and subthemes. Methodological trustworthiness and rigor were preserved at all stages of the research process.

Results

The essence of surgical practice, comprising participants’ descriptions of their identity as surgeons, influenced their experiences and coping mechanisms when dealing with death and dying. The following subthemes were identified: distancing from patients, wanting to fix problems, doing in terms of operating on a patient, prominence of the surgeon’s personal ability, and high personal responsibility for patient outcomes. Giving hope and having a mixed surgical practice were some of the coping mechanisms described by participants.

Discussion

Death and dying are a part of surgical practice, and surgeons face challenges as they care for dying patients. Although participants stated that they felt less affected by dealing with patients dying of life-limiting illnesses than by unexpected deaths, their descriptions of their encounters, reactions, and behaviors, as well as their use of language, suggest that these deaths have a lasting impact. Potential areas for improvement of surgical practice and approaches to teaching about death and dying in surgery are addressed. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest the need to expand research in this area.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all surgeons who agreed to be interviewed for their willingness to participate in the study and recount their personal and professional experiences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Sofia C. Zambrano & Anna Chur-Hansen

  2. Discipline of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Sofia C. Zambrano & Gregory B. Crawford

  3. Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Gregory B. Crawford

Authors
  1. Sofia C. Zambrano
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  2. Anna Chur-Hansen
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  3. Gregory B. Crawford
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Correspondence to Sofia C. Zambrano.

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Zambrano, S.C., Chur-Hansen, A. & Crawford, G.B. How Do Surgeons Experience and Cope with the Death and Dying of Their Patients? A Qualitative Study in the Context of Life-limiting Illnesses. World J Surg 37, 935–944 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-1948-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-1948-2

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