Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2022
The range and suitability of outcome measures used in the assessment of palliative treatment for inoperable malignant bowel obstruction: A systematic review.
Malignant bowel obstruction, a complication of certain advanced cancers, causes severe symptoms which profoundly affect quality of life. Clinical management remains complex, and outcome assessment is inconsistent. ⋯ Assessment focuses on survival, complications and overall symptom control. There is a need for definitions of treatment 'success' that are meaningful to patients, a more consistent approach to symptom assessment, and greater consideration of how to measure wellbeing in this population.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2022
The health of mothers of children with a life-limiting condition: A qualitative interview study.
The number of children with a life-limiting condition is increasing. The mothers of these children commonly provide extensive care at home for their child and are at a higher risk of poor health than other mothers. The impact of this is rarely explored from mothers' perspectives. ⋯ A more unified system that recognises not only the unique set of challenges presented to mothers caring for a child with a life-limiting condition, but the value of palliative care services in supporting these mothers, is required.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2022
ReviewHow best to capture the impact of complementary therapies in palliative care: A systematic review to identify and assess the appropriateness and validity of multi-domain tools.
Complementary therapies are widely used in palliative care settings. Qualitative research found that people with advanced disease report a range of physical and psychological benefits from complementary therapies, however evidence of their effectiveness from clinical trials is inconclusive. This may be because trials are limited by use of inappropriate outcome measures. ⋯ Of the tools identified, 'Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General' appears to be the most suitable alternative tool against COMSIN criteria, for trials of massage, reflexology and aromatherapy in palliative care. Further tool validation is required before firm recommendations can be made. Co-development of a core outcome set could ensure relevant domains are assessed.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2022
Paracentesis for cancer-related ascites in palliative care: An international, prospective cohort study.
Paracentesis is commonly undertaken in patients with cancer-related ascites. ⋯ Most patients obtained rapid benefits from paracentesis. Harms were less frequent and generally mild, but occasionally serious and fatal. Our findings help inform clinician-patient discussions about the potential outcomes of paracentesis in this frail population.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2022
Is the use of palliative care services increasing? A comparison of current versus historical palliative care access using health service datasets for patients with cancer.
Mature evidence exists supporting the integration of palliative care in cancer care, but translation of evidence into practice is less well understood. ⋯ Despite established benefits of early palliative care, the important task of translation of this evidence into practice remains.