Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2021
ReviewApproaching the end of their lives under blue lights and sirens - scoping review.
Emergency medical services (EMS) are frequently responding to calls involving patients in advanced stages of incurable diseases. Despite the competencies and potential of EMS in supporting patients and their families facing symptoms of advanced progressive illnesses, the role of EMS in providing palliative care remains unclear. ⋯ There are limited data on the incidence of EMS calls to the patients at the end-of-life and no data focusing on the EMS dispatch centres. Both paramedics and emergency physicians are aware of their role in the end-of-life care. EMS personnel are lacking special training and education in the palliative care. Cooperation between palliative care providers, the EMS providers and other out-of-hours services might improve the responsiveness of the health care system to needs and expectations of patients and their families, and possibly improve the overall health care system efficiency.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2021
What Affects Adoption of Specialty Palliative Care in Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study.
Although many patients with critical illness may benefit from involvement of palliative care specialists, adoption of these services in the intensive care unit (ICU) is variable. ⋯ This conceptual framework identifying distinct phases of adoption may assist institutions aiming to foster sustained adoption of specialty palliative care in an ICU setting.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2021
The possibility of conducting a clinical trial on palliative care: A survey of whether a clinical study on cancer dyspnea is acceptable to cancer patients and their relatives.
Conducting randomized controlled trials on palliative care is difficult owing to barriers like fragility of the patients' health status and health care providers' concerns for patients. However, quality randomized controlled trials are required for care improvement. ⋯ Some patients and relatives were reluctant to participate in clinical trials on cancer dyspnea. Thus, trials need to be minimally invasive, quick, and fully explained to and understood by patients and families.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2021
ReviewManaging bowel symptoms after sphincter-saving rectal cancer surgery: a scoping review: Managing bowel symptoms after rectal cancer.
Rectal cancer is common and it is often treated by surgery with or without chemoradiation. Cancer treatment frequently results in bowel symptoms. ⋯ It is likely that to effectively manage the bowel symptoms experienced after rectal cancer treatment, more than one management option may be used-. Additionally, different management options may need to be tried concurrently.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2021
Clinical TrialPerceptions of Need for Palliative Care in Recently Hospitalized Patients With Systolic Heart Failure.
The symptom burden associated with heart failure (HF) remains high despite improvements in therapy and calls for the integration of palliative care into traditional HF care. Little is also known about how patients with HF perceive palliative care and patient-level characteristics associated with the need for palliative care, which could influence the utilization of palliative care in HF management. ⋯ HF patients' beliefs about palliative care may affect utilization of palliative care. Specific characteristics can help identify patients with HF who may benefit from palliative care involvement. Education targeted towards patients with selected attributes may help incorporate palliative care into HF management.