Challenges in end-of-life communication in COPD

Educational aims

1. To raise awareness of end-of-life communication issues in COPD patients.

2. To discuss the challenge of depression and denial at the end of life in COPD.

3. To examine relevance of concepts such as death awareness, death trajectory and a good death.

Summary This review describes the professional healthcare literature on end-of-life communication in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), raising the challenge of depression and denial and describing how concepts such as death awareness, dying trajectory and a good death can help support the communication needs of individuals with COPD. Communication is not only concerned with explaining and supporting treatment decisions but should also accompany the individual throughout their illness.