Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2023
Understanding the experiences of mothers receiving perinatal palliative care: A qualitative study.
Despite the diagnosis of life-limiting foetal conditions, some mothers choose to continue their pregnancies. The experiences of these individuals are relatively unknown, making it difficult for perinatal palliative services to be targeted towards their needs. ⋯ Continuing a pregnancy despite the diagnosis of a life-limiting foetal condition can be challenging for mothers. To better meet their needs during this difficult period, perinatal palliative care must be patient-centred, multidisciplinary and non-judgmental. Efforts must be made to streamline the healthcare delivery process.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2023
Unrepresented, unheard and discriminated against: A qualitative exploration of relatives' and professionals' views of palliative care experiences of people of African and Caribbean descent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People of African and Caribbean descent experienced disproportionately high mortality from COVID-19 and have poor access to palliative care. ⋯ Person-centred, culturally-competent palliative care is not the norm for people of African and Caribbean descent. Expectations of inequitable care are widespread. Sustained action on multiple fronts is needed.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2023
Review Meta AnalysisEffectiveness and safety of opioids on breathlessness and exercise endurance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Opioids are recommended to treat advanced refractory dyspnoea despite optimal therapy by the American Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines, while newly published randomised controlled trials of opioids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease yield conflicting results. ⋯ Sustained-release opioids did not improve dyspnoea and exercise endurance. Short-acting opioids appeared to be safe, have potential to lessen dyspnoea and improve exercise endurance, supporting benefit in managing episodes of breathlessness and providing prophylactic treatment for exertional dyspnoea.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2023
ReviewWhat outcomes do studies use to measure the impact of prognostication on people with advanced cancer? Findings from a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies.
Studies evaluating the impact of prognostication in advanced cancer patients vary in the outcomes they measure, and there is a lack of consensus about which outcomes are most important. ⋯ Outcome reporting and measurement varied markedly across the studies. A standardised approach to outcome reporting in studies of prognosis is necessary to enhance data synthesis, improve clinical practice and better align with stakeholders' priorities.
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Palliative medicine · Oct 2023
ReviewThe spiritual dimension of parenting a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition: A mixed-methods systematic review.
Spirituality refers to the dynamic dimension of human life that relates to the way that persons experience meaning, purpose, and transcendence. The complex task of parenting a child with a life-limiting condition may raise existential questions, which are easily overlooked by healthcare professionals. ⋯ Although studies vary in defining spirituality, reports on spirituality focus on how parents connect to their faith, others, and themselves as parents. Healthcare professionals can support parents by paying attention to the spiritual process parents are going through. More research is needed into how healthcare professionals can support parents of seriously ill children in this process.