Articles: palliative-care.
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There is growing recognition of the reciprocity of suffering by patients and families experiencing terminal illness and the need to improve the quality of their lives as the patient's illness progresses. Research is presented that addresses the importance of a dyadic perspective in recognizing patients' and families' stress and adjustment and the related physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial needs at the end-of-life. ⋯ This article addresses the importance of assessing the dynamics of the family caregiving system and potential palliative care interventions to enhance the quality of life of family caregivers. Implications for research are also discussed.
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Author examines criminal investigations and prosecutions of physicians and nurses in connection with their care of dying patients and concludes that the criminal law has failed to protect patients and families and has significant power to deter appropriate pain management for dying patients.
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Palliative medicine · Jan 1998
Evaluation of a hospital-based palliative support service with particular regard to financial outcome measures.
The object of this study was a financial assessment of a hospital-based palliative support service, to be made by comparing the study group with a matched historical control group and a group of contemporary reference patients. The staff consisted of one full-time nurse supported by a surgeon one half-day per week. ⋯ These three outcome measures all focus on the most care-intensive last months of life and appeared to be sensitive enough to identify economic advantages of palliative care intervention. The palliative support service defrayed its own costs and in excess of that saved another SK17000 per patient (US$2500).