Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2014
Risk factors for developing prolonged grief during bereavement in family carers of cancer patients in palliative care: a longitudinal study.
Family carers of palliative care patients report high levels of psychological distress throughout the caregiving phase and during bereavement. Palliative care providers are required to provide psychosocial support to family carers; however, determining which carers are more likely to develop prolonged grief (PG) is currently unclear. ⋯ Screening family carers on entry to palliative care seems to be the most effective way of identifying who has a higher risk of developing PG. We recommend screening carers six months after the death of their relative to identify most carers with PG.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2014
Multicenter Study Observational StudyAssessment of reasons for referral and activities of hospital palliative care teams using a standard format: a multicenter 1000 case description.
The many benefits of hospital palliative care teams (PCTs) are well known. However, their specific activities have not been fully clarified, and no standardized methods for reporting PCT activities are available. ⋯ The components of hospital PCT activities were successfully measured using the Standard Format for Reporting Hospital PCT Activity. The results of this study and the format for reporting hospital PCT activity could be effective in improving hospital PCT practice and for the education of new hospital PCT members.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2014
The activity of palliative care team pharmacists in designated cancer hospitals: a nationwide survey in Japan.
The role of pharmacists in palliative care has become more important now that they are able to provide medication review, patient education, and advice to physicians about a patient's pharmacotherapy. However, there is little known about pharmacists' activity on palliative care teams. ⋯ In Japan, pharmacists exercise a moderate level of clinical activity on palliative care teams. Many pharmacists believe that they contribute to such a team and generally place more emphasis on their educational and research roles compared with clinical work.