‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study

Jeffrey R. Hanna; Tracey McConnell; Craig Harrison; Katarzyna A. Patynowska; Anne M. Finucane; Briony F. Hudson; Sharon Paradine; Angela MacCullagh; Joanne Reid

doi:10.1177/02692163221122269

‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study

Jeffrey R. Hanna, Tracey McConnell^*, Craig Harrison, Katarzyna A. Patynowska, Anne M. Finucane, Briony F. Hudson, Sharon Paradine, Angela MacCullagh, Joanne Reid

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Loneliness is a prevalent societal issue and can impact on a person’s physical and mental health. It is unclear how loneliness impacts on end of life experiences or how such feelings can be alleviated.

Aim: To explore the perceived prevalence, impact, and possible solutions to loneliness among people who are terminally ill and their carers in Northern Ireland through the lens of health and social care professionals.

Design: An explanatory multi-method study.

Setting/participants: An online survey (n = 68, response rate 30%) followed by three online focus groups with palliative and end of life care health and social care professionals (n = 14). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results: Loneliness was perceived by professionals as highly prevalent for people with a terminal illness (92.6%) and their carers (86.8%). Loneliness was considered a taboo subject and impacts on symptoms including pain and breathlessness and overall wellbeing at end of life. Social support was viewed as central toward alleviating feelings of loneliness and promoting connectedness at end of life. Four themes were identified: (1) the stigma of loneliness, (2) COVID-19: The loneliness
pandemic (3) impact of loneliness across physical and mental health domains, and (4) the power of social networks.

Conclusion: There is a need for greater investment for social support initiatives to tackle experiences of loneliness at end of life. These services must be co-produced with people impacted by terminal illness toensure they meet the needs of this population.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1483-1492
Number of pages	10
Journal	Palliative Medicine
Volume	36
Issue number	10
Early online date	8 Sept 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221122269
Publication status	Published - Dec 2022

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

loneliness
terminal illness
carers
end of life
palliative care
healthcare professionals
social care professionals

Access to Document

10.1177/02692163221122269Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

HannaEtal2022PMTheresSomethingAboutAdmittingFinal published version, 316 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

What is the impact of loneliness on the health, wellbeing and quality of life of people with a terminal illness and their carers in Northern Ireland; and what are the potential solutions to addressing loneliness among this group?
Finucane, A. (Co-investigator), McConnell, T. (Co-Investigator (External)), Reid, J. (Co-Investigator (External)), Harrison, C. (Co-Investigator (External)), Hudson, B. (Co-Investigator (External)) & Chatland, L. (Co-Investigator (External))
1/05/21 → 30/04/22
Project: Research

Cite this

Hanna, J. R., McConnell, T., Harrison, C., Patynowska, K. A., Finucane, A. M., Hudson, B. F., Paradine, S., MacCullagh, A., & Reid, J. (2022). ‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study. Palliative Medicine, 36(10), 1483-1492. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221122269

@article{839aefb656814f2ca0c60357349f1e8d,

title = "{\textquoteleft}There{\textquoteright}s something about admitting that you are lonely{\textquoteright} prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study",

abstract = "Background: Loneliness is a prevalent societal issue and can impact on a person{\textquoteright}s physical and mental health. It is unclear how loneliness impacts on end of life experiences or how such feelings can be alleviated. Aim: To explore the perceived prevalence, impact, and possible solutions to loneliness among people who are terminally ill and their carers in Northern Ireland through the lens of health and social care professionals. Design: An explanatory multi-method study. Setting/participants: An online survey (n = 68, response rate 30%) followed by three online focus groups with palliative and end of life care health and social care professionals (n = 14). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: Loneliness was perceived by professionals as highly prevalent for people with a terminal illness (92.6%) and their carers (86.8%). Loneliness was considered a taboo subject and impacts on symptoms including pain and breathlessness and overall wellbeing at end of life. Social support was viewed as central toward alleviating feelings of loneliness and promoting connectedness at end of life. Four themes were identified: (1) the stigma of loneliness, (2) COVID-19: The loneliness pandemic (3) impact of loneliness across physical and mental health domains, and (4) the power of social networks. Conclusion: There is a need for greater investment for social support initiatives to tackle experiences of loneliness at end of life. These services must be co-produced with people impacted by terminal illness toensure they meet the needs of this population. ",

keywords = "loneliness, terminal illness, carers, end of life, palliative care, healthcare professionals, social care professionals",

author = "Hanna, {Jeffrey R.} and Tracey McConnell and Craig Harrison and Patynowska, {Katarzyna A.} and Finucane, {Anne M.} and Hudson, {Briony F.} and Sharon Paradine and Angela MacCullagh and Joanne Reid",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the professionals and practitioners that took the time to complete the survey and participate in a focus group. The study was funded by Marie Curie. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022.",

year = "2022",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1177/02692163221122269",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "1483--1492",

journal = "Palliative Medicine",

issn = "0269-2163",

publisher = "SAGE Publications",

number = "10",

}

Hanna, JR, McConnell, T, Harrison, C, Patynowska, KA, Finucane, AM, Hudson, BF, Paradine, S, MacCullagh, A & Reid, J 2022, '‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study', Palliative Medicine, vol. 36, no. 10, pp. 1483-1492. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221122269

‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study. / Hanna, Jeffrey R.; McConnell, Tracey; Harrison, Craig et al.
In: Palliative Medicine, Vol. 36, No. 10, 12.2022, p. 1483-1492.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - ‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness

T2 - An explanatory sequential multi-methods study

AU - Hanna, Jeffrey R.

AU - McConnell, Tracey

AU - Harrison, Craig

AU - Patynowska, Katarzyna A.

AU - Finucane, Anne M.

AU - Hudson, Briony F.

AU - Paradine, Sharon

AU - MacCullagh, Angela

AU - Reid, Joanne

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the professionals and practitioners that took the time to complete the survey and participate in a focus group. The study was funded by Marie Curie. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - Background: Loneliness is a prevalent societal issue and can impact on a person’s physical and mental health. It is unclear how loneliness impacts on end of life experiences or how such feelings can be alleviated. Aim: To explore the perceived prevalence, impact, and possible solutions to loneliness among people who are terminally ill and their carers in Northern Ireland through the lens of health and social care professionals. Design: An explanatory multi-method study. Setting/participants: An online survey (n = 68, response rate 30%) followed by three online focus groups with palliative and end of life care health and social care professionals (n = 14). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: Loneliness was perceived by professionals as highly prevalent for people with a terminal illness (92.6%) and their carers (86.8%). Loneliness was considered a taboo subject and impacts on symptoms including pain and breathlessness and overall wellbeing at end of life. Social support was viewed as central toward alleviating feelings of loneliness and promoting connectedness at end of life. Four themes were identified: (1) the stigma of loneliness, (2) COVID-19: The loneliness pandemic (3) impact of loneliness across physical and mental health domains, and (4) the power of social networks. Conclusion: There is a need for greater investment for social support initiatives to tackle experiences of loneliness at end of life. These services must be co-produced with people impacted by terminal illness toensure they meet the needs of this population.

AB - Background: Loneliness is a prevalent societal issue and can impact on a person’s physical and mental health. It is unclear how loneliness impacts on end of life experiences or how such feelings can be alleviated. Aim: To explore the perceived prevalence, impact, and possible solutions to loneliness among people who are terminally ill and their carers in Northern Ireland through the lens of health and social care professionals. Design: An explanatory multi-method study. Setting/participants: An online survey (n = 68, response rate 30%) followed by three online focus groups with palliative and end of life care health and social care professionals (n = 14). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: Loneliness was perceived by professionals as highly prevalent for people with a terminal illness (92.6%) and their carers (86.8%). Loneliness was considered a taboo subject and impacts on symptoms including pain and breathlessness and overall wellbeing at end of life. Social support was viewed as central toward alleviating feelings of loneliness and promoting connectedness at end of life. Four themes were identified: (1) the stigma of loneliness, (2) COVID-19: The loneliness pandemic (3) impact of loneliness across physical and mental health domains, and (4) the power of social networks. Conclusion: There is a need for greater investment for social support initiatives to tackle experiences of loneliness at end of life. These services must be co-produced with people impacted by terminal illness toensure they meet the needs of this population.

KW - loneliness

KW - terminal illness

KW - carers

KW - end of life

KW - palliative care

KW - healthcare professionals

KW - social care professionals

U2 - 10.1177/02692163221122269

DO - 10.1177/02692163221122269

M3 - Article

C2 - 36081273

SN - 0269-2163

VL - 36

SP - 1483

EP - 1492

JO - Palliative Medicine

JF - Palliative Medicine

IS - 10

ER -

‘There’s something about admitting that you are lonely’ prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study

Abstract

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What is the impact of loneliness on the health, wellbeing and quality of life of people with a terminal illness and their carers in Northern Ireland; and what are the potential solutions to addressing loneliness among this group?

Cite this