Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2021
Changes in mortality patterns and place of death during the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive analysis of mortality data across four nations.
Understanding patterns of mortality and place of death during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to help provide appropriate services and resources. ⋯ Where people died changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increase in deaths at home during and between pandemic waves. This has implications for planning and organisation of palliative care and community services. The extent to which these changes will persist longer term remains unclear. Further research could investigate whether this is reflected in other countries with high COVID-19 mortality.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2021
Arts engagement facilitated by artists with individuals with life-limiting illness: A systematic integrative review of the literature.
Living with life-limiting illness significantly impacts quality of life. A growing body of evidence suggests that arts engagement facilitated by artists promotes well-being. However, no synthesis of the literature exists to describe arts engagement delivered by artists with individuals receiving palliative care. ⋯ Recommendations for future research were offered in order to maximize benefits, minimize risks and address complexity of artists' engagement in palliative care including: (1) consistency in methods and reporting; (2) inclusion of wider perspectives; and (3) key considerations for adapting the arts by health condition and art form.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialVirtual reality for pain management in advanced heart failure: A randomized controlled study.
Hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure often experience acute and/or chronic pain. While virtual reality has been extensively studied across a wide range of clinical settings, no studies have yet evaluated potential impact on pain management on this patient population. ⋯ Virtual reality may be an effective nonpharmacologic adjuvant pain management intervention in hospitalized patients with heart failure.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2021
The impact of digital health interventions on the psychological outcomes of patients and families receiving paediatric palliative care: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.
Digital health interventions are becoming increasingly important and may be particularly relevant for paediatric palliative care. In line with the aims of palliative care, digital health interventions should aim to maintain, if not improve, psychological wellbeing. However, the extent to which the psychological outcomes of digital health interventions are assessed is currently unknown. ⋯ Despite the design and development of digital health interventions that span the technological landscape, little research has assessed their psychosocial impact in the paediatric palliative care community. Whilst the evidence base around the role of these interventions continues to grow, their impact on children and their families must not be overlooked.