Articles: palliative-care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2022
ReviewIdentifying core domains to assess the 'quality of death':A scoping review.
There is growing recognition of the value to patients, families, society, and health systems in providing healthcare, including end-of-life care, that is consistent with both patient preferences and clinical guidelines. ⋯ The review affirms the need for a people-centered approach to managing the delicate process and period of accepting and preparing for the end of life. The identified structural and experiential factors pertinent to the "quality of death" will prove invaluable for future efforts aimed to quantify health system performance in the end-of-life period.
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2022
ReviewA rapid review of end-of-life needs in the LGBTQ+ community and recommendations for clinicians.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LGBTQ+) adults face challenges accessing end-of-life care. Understanding the experiences of LGBTQ+ persons within the end-of-life context is crucial in addressing their needs and supporting equity at end of life. ⋯ The hybrid Meyer's Minority Stress and Bronfenbrenner Ecological model elucidated how stressors and social contexts may impact LGBTQ+ adults when accessing end-of-life care. Incorporating LGBTQ+ cultural competence training into continuing education and ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals participate in the development of end-of-life care programming may better attend to the needs of this population.
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Observational Study
How to Open the Door: A Qualitative, Observational Study on Initiating Advance Care Discussions with Parents in Pediatric Palliative Care.
Context: Advance care discussions (ACD) between health care professionals (HCPs) and parents of children with a life-limiting disease are a core element of successful pediatric advance care planning (pACP). Yet, they are perceived as a challenging situation for all participants. Objectives: Our goal was to investigate the first step of ACD and identify its challenges and helpful communication strategies to develop a conversation guide for initiating the pACP process and structure the conversational opening. ⋯ HCPs and parents should clarify expectations and aims at the beginning of the conversation. Future research should focus on how HCPs can be trained for this task and how the right timing for introducing ACD to families can be identified. Clinical Trial Registration number 049-12.
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2022
ReviewExistential suffering in the day to day lives of those living with palliative care needs arising from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic integrative literature review.
The impact of living with palliative care needs arising from COPD disrupts an individual's existential situation. However, no comprehensive synthesis of existing research has been published to determine the presentation and impact of existential suffering. ⋯ This review suggests existential suffering is present and of significant impact within the daily lives of those living with palliative care needs arising from COPD. The absence of life meaning has the most significant impact. Further research is required to understand the essential components of an intervention to address existential suffering for this patient group, to ensure holistic palliative care delivery.
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2022
Multicenter Study Observational StudySexual health and closeness in couples coping with advanced cancer: Results of a multicenter observational study (eQuiPe).
Cancer and its treatment can severely affect sexual health. It is unknown how this may relate to the feelings of closeness between patients and their partners. ⋯ Couples coping with advanced cancer clearly face challenges regarding sexual health but are not likely to seek specialized support. When discussing sexual health, it is crucial that health care professionals pay attention to the aspects of sexual health that may contribute to feeling close to each other and suggest specialized care if necessary.