Background image Background image darkmode

LISTEN (Learning about the essentIal elementS of end-of-life communicaTion in palliativE Nursing care)

Talking about the end of life is important, but not always easy. 

Aim

In the LISTEN project, we investigated what helps nurses, nursing assistants and nurse practitioners to have meaningful conversations about the end of life with older people and their relatives. 

Results

The study shows that good end-of-life communication is not about one planned conversation or following a fixed step-by-step approach. Older people and their relatives particularly want to feel seen, heard and understood. Trust, listening, adapting to the person and situation, allowing silence, and focusing on what matters to someone are central. 

The study resulted in a framework consisting of five themes and 19 fundamentals, which was also internationally validated. The LISTEN framework helps healthcare professionals reflect on these conversations and learn from them. The findings have been translated into materials for practice and education and provide a basis for further training and research.

Dissertation

Follow-up project

More projects

Other ZonMw projects in which projectleader Judith Meijers is or has been involved:

Products

Title: Roundtable discussion Advance Care Planning.
Title: Talking with older people about the end of life... how can you contribute as a nurse?!
Title: Bouwstenen van verpleegkundige communicatie met ouderen over het levenseinde
Title: LISTEN: Fundamentals of end-of-life communication performed by nursing staff
Title: Fundamentals of end-of-life communication as part of advance care planning
Title: Peerboom, F., Friesen-Storms, J., van der Steen, J., Janssen, D., & Meijers, J. (2025). Levenseindegesprekken. TVZ-Verpleegkunde in praktijk en wetenschap, 135(1), 56-57. 280
Author: Peerboom, F., Friesen-Storms, J., van der Steen, J., Janssen, D., & Meijers, J.
Magazine: TVZ-Verpleegkunde in praktijk en wetenschap,
Title: Proactieve communicatie over het levenseinde
Author: Fran Peerboom, Jolanda Friesen, Jenny van der Steen, Daisy Janssen, Judith Meijers
Magazine: TVZ
Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41184-023-2256-4
Title: https://palliaweb.nl/publicaties/wat-belangrijk-is-in-levenseindecommunicatie-met-v
Author: Peerboom, F.B.A.L, Friesen-Storms, J.H.H.M., van der Steen, J.T., Janssen, D.J.A., Meijers, J.M.M.
Magazine: Palliaweb
Title: Conceptualizing end-of-life communication by nursing staff as part of advance care planning with older people: a multiple. discipline focus group study.
Author: Peerboom, F.B.A.L., Friesen-Storms, J.H.H.M., van der Steen, J.T., Janssen, D.J.A., & Meijers, J.M.M.
Magazine: International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
Title: Fundamentals of end-of-life communication as part of advance care planning from the perspective of nursing staff, older people, and family caregivers: a scoping review
Author: Fran B.A.L. Peerboom, Jolanda H.H.M. Friesen-Storms, Bénédicte J.E.G. Coenegracht, Sabine Pieters, Jenny T. van der Steen, Daisy J.A. Janssen, Judith M.M. Meijers
Magazine: BMC Nursing
Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12912-023-01523-2
Title: Fundamentals of end-of-life communication as part of advance care planning from the perspective of nursing staff, older people, and family caregivers: a scoping review.
Author: Peerboom, F.B.A.L., Friesen-Storms, J.H.H.M., Coenegracht, B.J.E.G., Pieters, S., van der Steen, J.T., Janssen, D.J.A., & Meijers, J.M.M
Magazine: BMC nursing
Title: Fundamentals of end-of-life communication as part of advance care planning for older people: An interview study with nursing staff.
Author: Peerboom, F.B.A.L., Friesen-Storms, J.H.H.M., van der Steen, J.T., Janssen, D.J.A., & Meijers, J.M.M.
Magazine: Geriatric Nursing
Title: What matters in end-of-life communication with nursing staff: an interview study among older people and their family caregivers.
Author: Peerboom, F.B.A.L., Friesen-Storms, J.H.H.M., van der Steen, J.T., Janssen, D.J.A., & Meijers, J.M.M.
Magazine: BMC nursing
Title: podcast awo-l LISTEN project
Link: https://www.awolimburg.nl/nl/projecten/listen
Title: LISTEN beyond words: unraveling the fundamentals of nursing end-of-life communication as part of advance care planning for older people
Author: Fran Peerboom
Link: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/listen-beyond-words-unraveling-the-fundamentals-of-nursing-end-of/
Link: https://www.awolimburg.nl/nl/projecten/listen
Link: https://www.awolimburg.nl/nl/projecten/listen
Title: Publiekssamenvatting LISTEN Fase 1.
Link: https://www.awolimburg.nl/userfiles/files/nieuwsbericht/publiekssamenvatting_poster_listen_fase_1_20230301_v1_0.pdf
Title: Nederlandstalige samenvatting LISTEN Fase 1 op Palliaweb.
Link: https://palliaweb.nl/publicaties/verpleegkundige-communicatie-met-ouderen-over-het#:~:text=Het%20opbouwen%20van%20een%20relatie,en%20wat%20specifieke%20behoeften%20zijn.

Quick links

  • Nursing and care
  • Fundamentals of care
  • Elderly
  • Palliative care
  • Proactive care planning
  • Nursing top talent

    • Features

    • Project number:
      10040022110005
    • Duration: 100%
      2022
      2026
    • Part of programme:
    • Related funding round:
      Subsidieaanvragen persoonsgebonden subsidie: talentontwikkeling gepromoveerde verpleegkundigen
    • Project lead and secretary:
      dr. J.M.M. Meijers PhD
    • Responsible organisation:
      Maastricht University

    Developing talent

    To encourage the development of talent, we invest in personal grants for exceptionally talented nurses to establish their own line of research that links research, practice and training. Read more about these personal grants.