Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2004
Hospital based palliative care teams improve the insight of cancer patients into their disease.
It is reported that cancer patients want as much information as possible about their diagnosis and prognosis. This input regarding patients' insight into their disease is undoubtedly a major part of providing optimal palliative care. Despite this, there is little information regarding the impact of hospital based palliative care teams. ⋯ The results indicated that cancer patients admitted to hospital for symptom control demonstrated an improvement in their insight to their diagnosis. Those patients who had the additional input of the palliative care team had a significantly greater improvement in their insight scores (reported by the doctors and nurses as being invaluable for the patients). Potential explanations are made for these results including enhanced communication skills of the palliative care team are explored.
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2004
Exploring the spiritual needs of people dying of lung cancer or heart failure: a prospective qualitative interview study of patients and their carers.
We set out to explore whether patients with life-threatening illnesses and their informal carers consider they experience significant spiritual needs, in the context of their overall needs, how spiritual concerns might vary by illness group and over the course of the illness, and how patients and their carers think they might be supported in addressing spiritual issues. ⋯ Spiritual issues were significant for many patients in their last year of life and their carers. Many health professionals lack the necessary time and skills to uncover and address such issues. Creating the opportunity for patients and carers to discuss spiritual issues, if they wish, requires highly developed communication skills and adequate time.