Palliative medicine
-
Palliative medicine · May 2014
End-of-life care and achieving preferences for place of death in England: results of a population-based survey using the VOICES-SF questionnaire.
Health policy places emphasis on enabling patients to die in their place of choice, and increasing the proportion of home deaths. In this article, we seek to explore reported preferences for place of death and experiences of care in a population-based sample of deaths from all causes. ⋯ More work is needed to encourage people to talk about their preferences at the end of life: this should not be restricted to those known to be dying. Increasing knowledge and achievement of preferences for place of death may also improve end-of-life care.
-
Palliative medicine · May 2014
Experiences of sexuality and intimacy in terminal illness: a phenomenological study.
There is a paucity of research considering sexuality and intimacy in palliative care. It is therefore unclear whether palliative care professionals have a role in addressing these issues with patients and their partners. ⋯ This study sheds new light on people's experiences of sexuality and intimacy when living with a terminal illness. The ethos of holistic care requires palliative care professionals to provide opportunities for patients and their partners to discuss any concerns they might have about their coupled relationship and to understand the meanings symptoms have for them.
-
Palliative medicine · May 2014
Observational StudyEconomic impact of hospitalisations among patients in the last year of life: an observational study.
Hospital admissions among patients at the end of life have a significant economic impact. Avoiding unnecessary hospitalisations has the potential for significant cost savings and is often in line with patient preference. ⋯ Reducing length of hospital stay in palliative care patients may offer the potential to achieve higher hospital cost savings than preventing avoidable admissions. Further research is required to determine both the feasibility of reducing length of hospital stay for patients with palliative care needs and the economic impact of doing so.