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Bringing up the end of life and euthanasia. A mixed method study on consultations with people with dementia and their families in the hospital setting
Trijntje M. Scheeres‐Feitsma, Petruschka Schaafsma, Janneke van Kempen, Jenny Theodora van der Steen. Palliative Medicine, 2026-02-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
End-of-life topics were discussed in 36% of consultations (in regional hospitals, 53%; in academic settings, 27%), and predominantly during diagnostic consultations (54%). Euthanasia was discussed in 21%, often initiated by the patient (60%) or the family (31%). Family members were present in 96% of consultations. We identified 3 themes. (1) Struggle to initiate end-of-life conversations. Physicians acknowledged the importance of timely end-of-life discussions, but struggled to initiate those discussions. Introducing euthanasia is considered undesirable. (2) Appreciation and concern about family input. Physicians' experiences of family involvement were positive in both end-of-life and euthanasia conversations, yet the latter also raised concerns. (3) Moral concerns regarding euthanasia for dementia. Physicians emphasized the importance of raising patient awareness about other end-of-life options. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: End-of-life conversations with patients with dementia are not standard practice in the hospital setting. The availability of euthanasia can narrow patients' perspective on other end-of-life options. This hinders physicians from initiating end-of-life conversations and possibly end-of-life decision making and care.
Key findings
- End-of-life topics were discussed in 36% of consultations (in regional hospitals, 53%; in academic settings, 27%), and predominantly during diagnostic consultations (54%).
- Euthanasia was discussed in 21%, often initiated by the patient (60%) or the family (31%).
- Family members were present in 96% of consultations.
- (1) Struggle to initiate end-of-life conversations.
- Physicians acknowledged the importance of timely end-of-life discussions, but struggled to initiate those discussions.
Why it matters
This mixed-method study examined how often end-of-life topics and euthanasia were discussed in hospital consultations with people with dementia and their families. It concerns communication and decision-making in care, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Palliative Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Palliative Medicine: journal h-index 161 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jenny Theodora van der Steen: h-index 56 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | King's College London: institution h-index 1,348 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41689565) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/02692163261416275
- PubMed: 41689565
- Original source →
- Free full text: Palliative Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Scheeres‐Feitsma, T. M., Schaafsma, P., van Kempen, J., & van der Steen, J. T. (2026). Bringing up the end of life and euthanasia. A mixed method study on consultations with people with dementia and their families in the hospital setting. Palliative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261416275
Vancouver
Scheeres‐Feitsma TM, Schaafsma P, van Kempen J, van der Steen JT. Bringing up the end of life and euthanasia. A mixed method study on consultations with people with dementia and their families in the hospital setting. Palliative Medicine. 2026. doi:10.1177/02692163261416275. PMID: 41689565.
BibTeX
@article{scheeresfeitsma2026-41689565,
author = {Scheeres‐Feitsma, Trijntje M. and Schaafsma, Petruschka and van Kempen, Janneke and van der Steen, Jenny Theodora},
title = {{Bringing up the end of life and euthanasia. A mixed method study on consultations with people with dementia and their families in the hospital setting}},
journal = {Palliative Medicine},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1177/02692163261416275},
pmid = {41689565},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261416275}
}
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