Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Sep 2015
ReviewDignity and patient-centred care for people with palliative care needs in the acute hospital setting: A systematic review.
A core concept behind patient-centred approaches is the need to treat people with, and preserve, dignity in care settings. People receiving palliative care are one group who may have particularly sensitive needs in terms of their condition, symptoms and life expectancy. Dignity is more likely to be violated in hospital settings. Given the high percentage of people with palliative care needs who are admitted to hospital during their last year of life, the provision of dignity enhancing and preserving care in that setting is of vital importance. ⋯ Acute hospital staff require adequate training, including symptom control, and the correct environment in which to deliver dignified and person-centred end-of-life care. Specific models/approaches to care can be beneficial, if adequate training regarding implementation is given. The needs of family members also require consideration, particularly following bereavement.
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Palliative medicine · Sep 2015
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in dementia: A qualitative study of the views of former dementia carers.
Despite media and academic interest on assisted dying in dementia, little is known of the views of those directly affected. ⋯ Health workers should be mindful of the holistic experience of dementia at the end of life. The psychological and existential aspects of suffering should be addressed, as well as relief of physical pain. Further research is required.
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Palliative medicine · Sep 2015
Experiences of burden, needs, rewards and resilience in family caregivers of people living with Motor Neurone Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A secondary thematic analysis of qualitative interviews.
Family caregivers of people with Motor Neurone Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, an incurable, mostly rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease, face many challenges. Although there is considerable research on caregiver burden in Motor Neurone Disease/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, there is less knowledge of the positive aspects of caring. ⋯ Coping is a non-linear process, oscillating between different states of mind. The proposed model could enable clinicians to better understand the caregiver experience, help family caregivers foster resilience and identify rewards, and develop appropriate individualised caregiver support plans.
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Palliative medicine · Sep 2015
A qualitative study exploring the benefits of hospital admissions from the perspectives of patients with palliative care needs.
The acute hospital plays a significant role in caring for people with a life-limiting illness. Most research to date has focused exclusively upon the negative aspects of hospitalisation. Currently, there is little known about the benefits of hospital admissions for patients with palliative care needs. ⋯ This research contributes to a greater understanding of the benefits associated with hospitalisation for patients with palliative care needs. The findings suggest that such benefits extend beyond the treatment patients receive and challenge current assumptions regarding the role of the acute hospital in palliative care.