---
title: "Effective Communication in Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Nursing Approaches"
id: "pubmed-42438269"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-42438269"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "Pharmacology"
source_name: "PubMed / NCBI"
source_url: "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/"
doi: "10.7748/ns.2026.e12684"
published_at: "2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Journal Article"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Effective Communication in Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Nursing Approaches
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-42438269
- **Specialty:** [Pharmacology](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pharmacology.md)
- **Primary Source:** PubMed / NCBI
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/)
- **DOI:** [10.7748/ns.2026.e12684](https://doi.org/10.7748%2Fns.2026.e12684)
- **Published At:** 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Journal Article
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- Effective communication is central to positive patient and family experiences in **palliative** and **end-of-life care**. It encompasses care and support offered to both patients and their families. - Communication in this context functions as a **therapeutic intervention**, shaping care, treatment and support during vulnerable periods. - The article examines the multifaceted nature of communication in palliative and end-of-life settings rather than offering a single approach. - It outlines that evidence-based **models and frameworks** exist to guide best practice and to support nurses in communicating effectively, though specific models are not listed in the abstract. - Core communication components noted include **active listening**, **breaking bad news**, **non-verbal communication**, interpersonal and person-centred skills, and nurse–patient relations. - The article emphasises communication with families as well as patients, recognising family support as part of end-of-life care. - The authors highlight the need for nurses to practise **self-care** when supporting patients and families in palliative or end-of-life contexts. - Keywords provided in the source identify priority areas for practice and education: active listening, breaking bad news, communication, end-of-life care, interpersonal skills, non-verbal communication, nurse–patient relations, palliative care, and person-centred care. - The article is published in Nurs Stand (2026) by Annette Redwood and Lynda Appleton and declares no conflicts of interest.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
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Epub 2026 Jul 13. # Effective communication in palliative and end of life care [Annette Redwood](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Redwood+A&cauthor_id=42438269)[ 1 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/#full-view-affiliation-1 "Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England, and clinical education facilitator at Wirral Hospice St John's, Higher Bebington, England."), [Lynda Appleton](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Appleton+L&cauthor_id=42438269)[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/#full-view-affiliation-2 "Research and Innovation, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England.") Affiliations Expand ### Affiliations * 1 Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England, and clinical education facilitator at Wirral Hospice St John's, Higher Bebington, England. * 2 Research and Innovation, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England. * PMID: **42438269** * DOI: [ 10.7748/ns.2026.e12684 ](https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2026.e12684) Item in Clipboard # Effective communication in palliative and end of life care Annette Redwood et al. Nurs Stand. 2026. Show details Display options Display options Format Abstract PubMed PMID Nurs Stand Actions * [ Search in PubMed ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Nurs+Stand%22%5Bjour%5D&sort=date&sort_order=desc) * [ Search in NLM Catalog ](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog?term=%22Nurs+Stand%22%5BTitle+Abbreviation%5D) * [ Add to Search ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/) . 2026 Sep 2;41(9):44-51. doi: 10.7748/ns.2026.e12684. Epub 2026 Jul 13. ### Authors [Annette Redwood](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Redwood+A&cauthor_id=42438269)[ 1 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/#short-view-affiliation-1 "Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England, and clinical education facilitator at Wirral Hospice St John's, Higher Bebington, England."), [Lynda Appleton](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Appleton+L&cauthor_id=42438269)[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42438269/#short-view-affiliation-2 "Research and Innovation, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England.") ### Affiliations * 1 Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England, and clinical education facilitator at Wirral Hospice St John's, Higher Bebington, England. * 2 Research and Innovation, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, England. * PMID: **42438269** * DOI: [ 10.7748/ns.2026.e12684 ](https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2026.e12684) Item in Clipboard Cite Display options Display options Format Abstract PubMed PMID ## Abstract Effective communication in palliative or end of life care, which includes the care and support offered to an individual's family, is crucial to ensuring a positive patient experience. Communication in palliative or end of life care can be considered as a therapeutic intervention that shapes care, treatment and support for patients and their families during the most vulnerable periods in their life. This article explores the multifaceted nature of communication in palliative and end of life care. It discusses some evidence-based models and frameworks that can guide best practice and support nurses to communicate effectively. The article also considers the importance of self-care for nurses who are supporting patients and families in the palliative or end of life care context. **Keywords:** active listening; breaking bad news; communication; end of life care; interpersonal skills; non-verbal communication; nurse-patient relations; palliative care; person-centred care. © Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom (The) 2026. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers. [PubMed Disclaimer](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/) ## Conflict of interest statement None declared ## Similar articles * [ The patient experience of patient-centered communication with nurses in the hospital setting: a qualitative systematic review protocol. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26447009/) Newell S, Jordan Z.Newell S, et al.JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2015 Jan;13(1):76-87. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1072.JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2015.PMID: 26447009 * [ Thinking ahead about medical treatments in advanced illness: a qualitative study of barriers and enablers in end-of-life care planning with patients and families from ethnically diverse backgrounds. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37464868/) Islam Z, Pollock K, Patterson A, Hanjari M, Wallace L, Mururajani I, Conroy S, Faull C.Islam Z, et al.Health Soc Care Deliv Res. 2023 Jun;11(7):1-135. doi: 10.3310/JVFW4781.Health Soc Care Deliv Res. 2023.PMID: 37464868 * [ Co-designing a framework to communicate patient-centred outcomes in palliative care: involving patients and the public to reframe understanding. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41721998/) Hocaoglu MB, Oluyase A, Smith D, Kumar R, Perman S, Maddocks M, Best S, Nast C, Bajwah S, Sleeman KE, Higginson IJ.Hocaoglu MB, et al.J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2026 Feb 21;10(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s41687-026-01019-y.J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2026.PMID: 41721998Free PMC article. * [ Promoting and supporting self-management for adults living in the community with physical chronic illness: A systematic review of the effectiveness and meaningfulness of the patient-practitioner encounter. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27819974/) Rees S, Williams A.Rees S, et al.JBI Libr Syst Rev. 2009;7(13):492-582. doi: 10.11124/01938924-200907130-00001.JBI Libr Syst Rev. 2009.PMID: 27819974 * [ Interventions for interpersonal communication about end of life care between health practitioners and affected people. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35802350/) Ryan RE, Connolly M, Bradford NK, Henderson S, Herbert A, Schonfeld L, Young J, Bothroyd JI, Henderson A.Ryan RE, et al.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Jul 8;7(7):CD013116. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013116.pub2.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022.PMID: 35802350Free PMC article. 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