Perceived non-ordinary end-of-life experiences witnessed and reported by a palliative care team accompanying terminally ill patients in a hospice: A qualitative study.

Authors

Arianna Pedrini, Maria Naglieri, Nadir Facchin, Tommaso Fusaro, Erika Iacona, Ines Testoni

Published in

Death studies. Pages 1-12. Sep 23, 2026. Epub Sep 23, 2026.

Abstract

This study examines perceived non-ordinary end-of-life experiences (NOEoLEs) witnessed or reported by the hospice palliative care team and explores their influence on the accompaniment of dying patients, the team's work, and their attitudes toward death and afterlife. A qualitative research design was adopted, including 37 members of the interdisciplinary team from an Italian hospice. According to team members, patients and their relatives frequently report perceived non-ordinary end-of-life experiences (NOEoLEs). While patients typically respond positively to such experiences, relatives may experience fear or distress. Healthcare professionals tend to have positive or emotionally neutral responses, often interpreting NOEoLEs as a meaningful and legitimate part of the end-of-life process. Encounters with NOEoLEs appear to influence care practices and foster reflection on personal spirituality and views of death and the afterlife. Overall, these experiences may enhance patient care, improve support to relatives, and contribute to shifts in personal perspective on life and death.

PMID:
42773891
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 23 Sep 2026.

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