This UK study examined nurses' decisions, aims and concerns when using anticipatory medications. The findings revealed that nurses' identified four "conditions" that needed to be established when they implemented anticipatory medication: (i) irreversibility; (ii) inability to to take oral medication; (iii) to gain consent from the patient if possible, and (iv) the decision had to be independent from demands of family/relatives. Worries included distinguishing between pain and agitation, balancing risks of under and over medication, and the possibility of hastening death.
Wilson, E. et al. 2015. Administering anticipatory medications in end of life care: a qualitative study of nursing practice in the community and in nursing homes. Palliative Medicine 29 (1) p 60 - 70.
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