Journal of palliative medicine
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Background: Despite their essential role in language concordant patient care, medical interpreters do not routinely receive training focused on difficult conversations and may not feel comfortable interpreting these encounters. Previous studies, while acknowledging the need for increased support, have provided limited strategies targeted at enhancing interpreter training and improving interpreter comfort levels in difficult conversations. Methods: Fifty-seven in-person medical interpreters providing services at our quaternary and community hospitals completed a 21-question mixed-methods survey regarding their comfort levels and experiences surrounding serious illness conversations. ⋯ Conclusions: Our study highlighted the significant variability in medical interpreter training as well as ranging comfort levels in interpreting difficult conversations. Medical providers should not presume that interpreters are instantly prepared for these encounters. Current findings call for novel training opportunities specific to medical interpreters and difficult dialogues, as well as improved adherence of interprofessional pre-meeting/debriefings when serious news is discussed.
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Observational Study
Effect of Morphine Used to Relieve Dyspnea Due to Heart Failure on Delirium.
Background: Delirium management is crucial in palliative care. Morphine effectively relieves dyspnea due to heart failure. However, the effect of morphine, which is used to relieve dyspnea due to heart failure, on the incidence of delirium has not been examined to date. ⋯ Results: The odds ratios for morphine in the multivariate logistic regression analysis with propensity score and univariate logistic regression analysis after propensity score matching were 1.406 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.249-7.957]) and 1.034 (95% CI [0.902-1.185]), respectively. Conclusions: Morphine, which is used to relieve dyspnea due to heart failure, had minimal effect on the incidence of delirium. This information is likely to be beneficial for the future use of morphine in the management of dyspnea in patients with heart failure.
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Palliative care improves outcomes, yet rural residents often lack adequate and equitable access. This study provides practical tips to address palliative care (PC)-related challenges in rural communities. ⋯ Despite complex barriers to access, providers can tailor PC to be patient-centered, respect local values, and bridge gaps. The "Top 10" format emphasizes the relevant issues to enable clinicians to provide optimal care for people from rural areas.
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Background: The disease trajectory of heart failure (HF), along with other organ failures, is still being elucidated. The trajectory is represented as a descending saw-tooth curve, indicating the frequent exacerbations and hospitalizations and slow progression to death. However, the clinical pattern of HF is no longer unique because of the definition of three distinct phenotypes, according to different values of ejection fraction (EF): HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), mildly reduced EF (HFmEF), and preserved EF (HFpEF). ⋯ Results: From these considerations, we discuss how the improved prognosis of HFrEF because of effective treatment could paradoxically delay the initiation of early PC, especially with the insufficient palliative knowledge and training of cardiologists, who usually believe that PC is required only at the end of life. Conclusions: The novel therapeutic approaches for HF discussed in this study highlight the clinical specificity and peculiar needs of patients with HF. The changing model of disease trajectories of patients with HF will provide new opportunities for the early implementation of PC.