Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
ReviewMissing the human connection: A rapid appraisal of healthcare workers' perceptions and experiences of providing palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During infectious epidemics, healthcare workers are required to deliver traditional care while facing new pressures. Time and resource restrictions, a focus on saving lives and new safety measures can lead to traditional aspects of care delivery being neglected. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic prohibited the delivery of traditional care as practical barriers restricted human connections. Staff prioritised communication and comfort orientated tasks to re-establish compassion at end-of-life and displayed resilience by adjusting their goals.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialCaregiver-guided pain coping skills training for patients with advanced cancer: Results from a randomized clinical trial.
Pain is a major concern among patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Evidence suggests that pain coping skills training interventions can improve outcomes, however they have rarely been tested in this population. ⋯ This is the first study to test a pain coping skills intervention targeted to patients and caregivers facing advanced cancer. Findings suggest that pain education provides benefits for patients and caregivers, and coping skills training may be beneficial for caregivers. Further research is needed to optimize the benefits of education and pain coping skills training for improving cancer pain outcomes.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02430467, Caregiver-Guided Pain Management Training in Palliative Care.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Review Case ReportsImmunotherapy associated pain crisis and the haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome in advanced melanoma: Case report and review of the literature.
Immunotherapy is increasingly used in the management of early and advanced malignancy. There is limited data regarding the associations between immunotherapy, malignancy, pain and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. ⋯ There is laboratory evidence suggesting an association between immunotherapy, malignancy, pain and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Further clinical evidence is required in order to understand these intersecting phenomena.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Eliciting the educational needs and priorities of home care workers on end-of-life care for patients with heart failure using nominal group technique.
Home care workers, as paid caregivers, assist with many aspects of home-based heart failure care. However, most home care workers do not receive systematic training on end-of-life care for heart failure patients. ⋯ Our findings confirm the need for the formal development and evaluation of an educational program for home care workers to improve the care of heart failure patients at the end-of-life. There is also a need for research on integrating home care workers into the interprofessional healthcare team to support optimal health outcomes for patients with heart failure.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.
Patients in palliative care are usually conceptualised as recipients of support from family caregivers. Family caregivers in palliative care are typically defined as providers of support to patients. Little is known about reciprocal dimensions of support provision between patients and family caregivers in palliative care. ⋯ Few studies have focused in whole or in part, on reciprocal dimensions of support provision between patients with advancing non-curable conditions, and their family caregivers in palliative care. Further research is required to identify key domains of mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care.