Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2019
Comparative StudyNational comparative audit of red blood cell transfusion practice in hospices: Recommendations for palliative care practice.
Red blood cell transfusions are commonly used in palliative care to treat anaemia or symptoms caused by anaemia. In patients with advanced disease, there is little evidence of benefit to guide treatment decisions in the face of increased risk of harms. ⋯ More rigorous investigation of anaemia, increased use of alternative therapies and more restrictive approach to red cell transfusions are recommended. Clinicians should discuss the limited benefit versus potentially higher risks with patients in hospice services to inform treatment decisions.
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2019
Barriers and enablers to deprescribing in people with a life-limiting disease: A systematic review.
Knowing the barriers/enablers to deprescribing in people with a life-limiting disease is crucial for the development of successful deprescribing interventions. These barriers/enablers have been studied, but the available evidence has not been summarized in a systematic review. ⋯ The scarcity of findings in the literature highlights the importance of filling this gap. Further research should focus on deepening the knowledge on these barriers/enablers in order to develop sustainable multifaceted deprescribing interventions in palliative care.