Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialA therapist-supported internet-based intervention for bereaved siblings: A randomized controlled trial.
The loss of a sibling can have a long-term impact on the mental and physical health of the surviving sibling throughout adolescence and later adulthood. Even though bereaved siblings can be identified as a high-risk group, evidence-based interventions for this bereavement group are still missing. ⋯ Bereaved siblings profited from this brief internet-based writing intervention in the short- and long-term. However, future research, such as dismantling studies, may help to further optimize the benefits of an intervention aimed at bereaved siblings.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialWhen a dying patient is asked to participate in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on symptom control: The decision-making process and experiences of relatives.
Placebo-controlled trials can provide evidence to inform end-of-life care, but it is contested whether asking dying patients to participate in such trials is morally justifiable. To investigate the experiences of these patients is even more complex. Therefore, proxy assessments by relatives can be a good alternative. ⋯ The large majority of bereaved relatives experienced the participation of their dying love one in this RCT as acceptable and valuable.
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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
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of a theory-based advance care planning intervention for nursing homes: A cluster randomized controlled trial.
Uptake of advance care planning in routine nursing home care is low. Through extensive literature review, theoretical development, and stakeholder involvement, we developed the ACP+ intervention. ⋯ The ACP+ intervention for nursing homes improved care staff's self-efficacy but not their knowledge concerning advance care planning. Considering the comprehensive and multi-component approach used, these effects were smaller than expected. Reasons for this may be related to the chosen follow-up period, outcomes and measurements, or to the intervention itself and its implementation.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluation of a WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program for people with advanced cancer and family caregivers: A mixed-method feasibility study.
Cancer not only affects cancer patients' quality of life but also their family caregivers'. A WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program was developed by our research team for people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers to improve their quality of life. ⋯ The WeChat-based Dyadic Life Review Program is feasible and acceptable for people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. It has the potential to improve their quality of life, adaptability and cohesion, and reduce family caregivers' care burden.