Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Using Latent Class Analysis to Identify Different Clinical Profiles Among Patients With Advanced Heart Failure.
Although palliative care is guideline-indicated for patients with advanced heart failure (HF), the scarcity of a specialty-trained palliative care workforce demands better identification of patients who are most burdened by the disease. ⋯ Among advanced HF patients, we identified a distinct subgroup characterized by a conjunction of high symptom burden, anxiety, depression, multimorbidity, and functional status impairment, which might profit particularly from palliative care interventions. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022;000:1-9.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
ReviewA Systematic Review of Stakeholder Perspectives of Dignity and Assisted Dying.
The debate on assisted dying and its components, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide has evolved with the emergence of the right to dignity and the wish to hasten death (WTHD). Whilst shaped by local legal and sociocultural considerations, appreciation of how patients, healthcare professionals and lawmakers relate notions of dignity to self-concepts of personhood and the desire for assisted dying will better inform and direct support of patients. ⋯ Concepts of dignity constantly evolve throughout the patient's end of life journey. Understanding when and how these concepts of personhood change and trigger the fear of a loss of dignity or intractable suffering could direct timely, individualised and appropriate person-centred dignity conserving measures. We believe an RToP-based tool could fulfil this role and further study into the design of this tool is planned.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Priority Research Topics and Patient and Family Needs in a National Sample of Hospice Agencies.
Various contextual factors surrounding hospice care have reinforced the need for scholars to pursue practice-relevant research questions. Although priority-setting is a primary approach to streamline such efforts, research appears yet to have conducted priority-setting with hospice professionals. ⋯ These findings presented by hospice agency representatives reflect directions for research and clinical development. Efforts are needed to cohere professional- and patient-reported areas of needed attention.