Experiencing and enduring patient distress: the distress of palliative care patients and its emotional impact on physicians in training

Experiencing and enduring patient distress: the distress of palliative care patients and its emotional impact on physicians in training
BMC Medical Education; by Andréa Tarot, Maxence Pithon, Ashley Ridley, Virginie Guastella, Virginie Guastella, Morgane Plancon, Régis Aubry, Helène Vaillant Roussel, and Axelle Maneval; 6/26/24
The extreme vulnerability experienced by patients in palliative care may result in significant distress. These patients require appropriate care while not pathologizing their natural distress. ... [The] aim of this study was to explore how professionals in training feel when confronted with the distress of patients undergoing palliative care. ... The interviews revealed the following five themes:

• feelings of powerlessness,
• duty to act,
• difficulty in building a relationship,
• feeling insecure about oneself, and
• creating a space for listening and relating.

All participants felt powerless in front of their patient’s distress. Numerous defense mechanisms were identified that made the relationship with the patient difficult. Four participants described being able to create a space for listening and relating to their patients.