Palliative medicine
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2016
Measuring healthcare integration: Operationalization of a framework for a systems evaluation of palliative care structures, processes, and outcomes.
Healthcare integration is a priority in many countries, yet there remains little direction on how to systematically evaluate this construct to inform further development. The examination of community-based palliative care networks provides an ideal opportunity for the advancement of integration measures, in consideration of how fundamental provider cohesion is to effective care at end of life. ⋯ This study, along with the other evaluative examples mentioned, represents important initial attempts at empirically and comprehensively examining network-integrated palliative care and healthcare integration in general.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2016
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review of reasons for gatekeeping in palliative care research.
When healthcare professionals or other involved parties prevent eligible patients from entering a trial as a research subject, they are gatekeeping. This phenomenon is a persistent problem in palliative care research and thought to be responsible for the failure of many studies. ⋯ Gatekeeping is motivated by the general assumption of vulnerability of patients, coupled with an emphasis on the duty to protect patients. Research is easily perceived as a threat to patient well-being, and the benefits appear to be overlooked. The patients' perspective concerning study participation is needed to gain a full understanding and to address gatekeeping in palliative care research.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2016
Perceptions of health professionals on subcutaneous hydration in palliative care: A qualitative study.
Evidence indicates that hypodermoclysis is as safe and effective as intravenous rehydration in the treatment of the symptomatology produced by mild to moderate dehydration in patients for whom oral route administration is not possible. However, the knowledge about the use of the subcutaneous hydration and its correlates is still limited. ⋯ Variables which most often influence the use of subcutaneous route to hydration are those that are linked to the characteristics of the patient, the team and the family, and other like the context and professionals' subjective perceptions about this medical practice.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2016
Multicenter StudyThe Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: Poor performance as screener for major depression in patients with incurable cancer.
Depressive symptoms are prevalent in patients with advanced cancer, sometimes of a severity that fulfil the criteria for a major depressive episode. ⋯ The depression and anxiety items of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, a frequently used assessment tool in palliative care settings, seem to measure a construct other than major depressive episode as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 instrument.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2016
ReviewQuantifying the burden of opioid medication errors in adult oncology and palliative care settings: A systematic review.
Opioids are the primary pharmacological treatment for cancer pain and, in the palliative care setting, are routinely used to manage symptoms at the end of life. Opioids are one of the most frequently reported drug classes in medication errors causing patient harm. Despite their widespread use, little is known about the incidence and impact of opioid medication errors in oncology and palliative care settings. ⋯ This review has highlighted the paucity of the literature examining opioid error incidence, types and patient impact in adult oncology and palliative care settings. Defining, identifying and quantifying error reporting practices for these populations should be an essential component of future oncology and palliative care quality and safety initiatives.