Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2022
Health care professionals' perceptions of factors influencing the process of identifying patients for serious illness conversations: A qualitative study.
The Serious Illness Care Programme enables patients to receive care that is in accordance with their priorities. However, despite clarity about palliative care needs, many barriers to and difficulties in identifying patients for serious illness conversations remain. ⋯ The process of identifying patients for serious illness conversations is complex and may not be captured only by generic tools such as the surprise question. It is crucial to address existential and ethical obstacles that can hinder the identification of patients for serious illness conversations.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2022
Meta AnalysisHow effective is virtual reality technology in palliative care? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The efficacy of virtual reality for people living with a terminal illness is unclear. ⋯ Virtual reality in palliative care is feasible and acceptable. However, limited sample sizes and very low-quality studies mean that the efficacy of virtual reality needs further research.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialAcceptance and commitment therapy for patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden in advanced gastrointestinal cancer: Results of a pilot randomized trial.
Fatigue often interferes with functioning in patients with advanced cancer, resulting in increased family caregiver burden. Acceptance and commitment therapy, a promising intervention for cancer-related suffering, has rarely been applied to dyads coping with advanced cancer. ⋯ Acceptance and commitment therapy showed strong feasibility, acceptability, and promise and warrants further testing.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2022
Face and content validity, acceptability, feasibility, and implementability of a novel outcome measure for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illness in three sub-Saharan African countries.
The Children's Palliative Care Outcome Scale (C-POS) is the first measure developed for children with life-limiting and -threatening illness. It is essential to determine whether the measure addresses what matters to children, and if they can comprehend and respond to its items. ⋯ C-POS items capture the core symptoms and concerns that matter to children and their families. C-POS is feasible, comprehensible, and acceptable for use in clinical settings; areas for further development and improvement are identified.