Palliative & supportive care
-
This study addressed factors physicians employ in their communication of a terminal diagnosis and a hospice referral to Hispanic patients. ⋯ These results suggest that discussing end-of-life issues with the diverse category of Hispanic patients and families will be enhanced by eliminating language barriers, increased understanding of the role of family members, and knowledge of cultural factors and beliefs related to end-of-life decisions.
-
Palliat Support Care · Jun 2010
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and assisted ventilation: how patients decide.
Throughout the course of their illness, people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) must make many treatment decisions; however, none has such a significant impact on quality of life and survival as decisions about assisted ventilation. ⋯ People with ALS and caregivers value autonomy in decision-making about assisted ventilation. Their decision-making process is neither wholly rational nor self-interested, and includes factors that health professionals should anticipate and address. Discussions about assisted ventilation and timing should be tailored to each individual and undertaken periodically.
-
Palliat Support Care · Jun 2010
Emerging adulthood and cancer: how unmet needs vary with time-since-treatment.
The impact of a cancer experience during emerging adulthood (18-25 years of age) is an under-studied phenomenon, with research on young people typically focussing on children or adolescents. Needs-based research on this population is even scarcer. This study sought to ascertain the most commonly-unmet needs of emerging adults with cancer, in various stages of time-since-treatment, and to investigate links to psychological functioning. ⋯ The results of the present study provide quantitative needs-based information about emerging adults with cancer, in the context of their treatment situation. This enables health care providers to better support the emerging adult with cancer in ways that are age-appropriate and time-sensitive. The persisting levels of unmet needs and psychological distress beyond five years since treatment underscore the importance of long-term follow-up and support.
-
The aim of this study was to explore the significance of fatigue among relatives of palliative patients. ⋯ The result of the pilot study is only preliminary, but it showed that relatives caring for patients in a late palliative phase suffer from great fatigue and require more attention, both scientifically and in the clinical settings.
-
Palliat Support Care · Jun 2010
Characteristics, interventions, and outcomes of misdiagnosed delirium in cancer patients.
Although delirium is a common psychiatric complication in cancer patients, it is often not accurately recognized. To date, the characteristics and outcome of misrecognized patients are unclear in the cancer setting. This retrospective study was planned to determine the recognition by oncologists at the psychiatric consultation, characteristics, reversibility and outcome of misrecognized patients with delirium. ⋯ Despite its high prevalence, delirium is difficult to diagnose for non-psychiatric physicians. Its detection is important not only to give the best treatment option to cancer patients but also to provide the best opportunity to inform their family about their condition and end-of-life issues.