Palliative Care and Physical Therapy in the Terminal Care of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia

Abstract

[Purpose] Physical therapists involved in the care of end-of-life of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) patients have to consider the role of physical therapy intervention and the timing of its termination. [Subjects] Twelve cases who died as a result of IIP acute exacerbation. [Methods] The contents and course of the subjects’ physical therapy, the wishes of the patients and their families, the medical treatment and its course, whether or not it complied with the decisions of the patients, and the presence or absence of a description of palliative care were investigated. [Results] PT intervention was canceled on relapse in 4 cases and was canceled after repeated relapse in 8 cases. The contents of physical therapy reflected the wishes of the patient and family in 3 cases. [Conclusion] In the terminal care of IIP patients, the physical therapist’s role is to understand the mental state of the patient and the family in a short period of time, and to appropriately change ADL aiming at symptom relief up to the end stage.