Preparedness planning before mechanical circulatory support: a "how-to" guide for palliative medicine clinicians

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, May 2014, vol./is. 47/5(926-935.e6)

Swetz KM, Kamal AH, Matlock DD, Dose AM, Borkenhagen LS, Kimeu AK, Dunlay SM, Feely MA

Previous literature has suggested that palliative medicine providers are well poised to assist cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and the multidisciplinary cardiovascular team with promotion of informed consent and initial and iterative discussions regarding goals of care. Here, the authors outline several key aspects of preparedness planning and detail strategies for engaging patients who are receiving mechanical circulatory support in the process. 

Full text available from Elsevier in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Care strategy for death rattle in terminally ill cancer patients and their family members: recommendations from a cross-sectional nationwide survey of bereaved family members' perceptions

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, July 2014, vol./is. 48/1(2-12)

Shimizu Y, Miyashita M, Morita T, Sato K, Tsuneto S, Shima Y

The authors aimed to clarify death rattle-related emotional distress levels among family members and their perceptions of the need for death rattle care improvement and explore the factors influencing both these issues. 

Full text available from Elsevier in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

The challenges of providing palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities: a literature review

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, June 2014, vol./is. 20/6(279-84)

Dunkley S, Sales R

This literature review explores the challenges of providing palliative care for people with intellectual disability,  highlighting the need for ongoing staff development focusing on staff confidence, collaborative working between professionals, and the empowerment of people with intellectual disability to be involved in decisions about their end-of-life care. 

Full text available from EBSCO in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Current assessment and treatment strategies of dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review of the 2012/13 literature

Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, June 2014, vol./is. 8/2(152-63)

Kraaijenga SA, van der Molen L, van den Brekel MW, Hilgers FJ 

This review focuses on the rapidly growing literature published during the past 2 years about the current assessment and treatment strategies of dysphagia in HNC patients. 

Full text available from Ovid in Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

"It's alright to ask for help": findings from a qualitative study exploring the information and support needs of family carers at the end of life

BMC Palliative Care, 2014, vol./is. 13/(22)

Harrop E, Byrne A, Nelson A

Results from four focus groups with Clinical Nurse Specialists, healthcare assistants, former and current carers at a hospice in the UK, suggest three domains which could underpin the development of educational or information based resources for carers: developing knowledge and competence; facilitating preparedness; supporting role recognition and confidence building.

Full text available from Proquest in BMC Palliative Care

Full text available from BioMedCentral in BMC Palliative Care

Blended e-learning and end of life care in nursing homes: a small-scale mixed-methods case study

BMC Palliative Care, 2014, vol./is. 13/(31)

Farrington CJ

This paper evaluates the impact of a blended training course for group c staff (i.e. staff with relatively infrequent contact with end of life care) in a nursing home in the East of England, while also considering barriers to change in practice. The author concludes that while blended e-learning courses have the potential to generate positive change in participants' understandings of and confidence about End of Life Care, organizational and inter-professional obstacles must be overcome in order to translate these changes into improved end of life care delivery in nursing (and residential) homes.

Full text available from Proquest in BMC Palliative Care

Full text available from BiomedCentral in BMC Palliative Care

Caregiver evaluation of the ACTIVE intervention: "it was like we were sitting at the table with everyone"

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, June 2014, vol./is. 31/4(444-53)

Oliver DP, Albright DL, Kruse RL, Wittenberg-Lyles E, Washington K, Demiris G

This study evaluates the participant experience of the ACTIVE (assessing caregivers for team intervention via video encounters) intervention, designed to use web conferencing technology to overcome the barriers of participation in the development and review of individual care plans. 

The changing face of grief: Contemporary directions in theory, research, and practice

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 June 2014, vol./is. 22/3(125-130)
Robert A Neimeyer

This brief article reviews the conceptual developments in grief work and the emerging therapies they suggest and argues that their inclusion in professional training can support professionals who work with families at the end of life and beyond.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Bereavement and palliative care: A public health perspective

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 June 2014, vol./is. 22/3(131-135)
Bruce Rumbold; Samar Aoun

In this paper the authors argue that palliative care services should match their commitment to providing a good death with a commitment to supporting good grief and that this means investing their efforts principally in developing a community capacity for bereavement care rather than seeking to deliver specialised services only to relatives and friends of those who have received palliative care services.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Caring for the carer: The lessons of research

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 June 2014, vol./is. 22/3(150-154)
Kenneth J Doka

This paper explores the phenomenon of carer grief as experienced by many who counsel or work with individuals who are ill, dying or bereaved.  It also identifies both individual and organisational strategies that help carers in coping with their grief.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Bereavement needs assessment - Piloting a process

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 June 2014, vol./is. 22/3(143-149)
Tania Brocklehurst; Clare Hearnshaw; Linda Machin

Professionals from seven hospices and carers' organisations in Hertfordshire and Luton piloted the use of the 'Range of Response to Loss Bereavement Self-Assessment Tool' (RRL BSA). Practitioners involved in the pilot believed the responses to the assessment tool accurately reflect the level of the clients' bereavement needs.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Complicated grief - a challenge in bereavement support in palliative care: An update of the field

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 June 2014, vol./is. 22/3(136-142)

Mai-Britt Guldin

This paper addresses issues relating to complicated grief as a bereavement-related disorder.  The current implications and challenges in palliative care bereavement support are discussed.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Breaking down the silos: Collaboration delivering an efficient and effective response to palliative care emergencies

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 August 2014, vol./is. 22/4(212-218)
Kate Swetenham; Hugh Grantham; Karen Glaetzer

The objective is to explore the introduction of a rapid response team using a partnership model involving extended care paramedics in South Australia. Early data reveals that 90% of unnecessary and unwanted hospital admissions have been avoided in the palliative care population.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

What is the cancer patient's own experience of participating in an occupational therapy-led relaxation programme?

Progress in Palliative Care, 01 August 2014, vol./is. 22/4(206-211)
Jill Cooper

This study investigated 10 cancer patients' experiences of a relaxation programme run by occupational therapists in a specialist cancer centre.  The main conclusion was that patients were not just attending relaxation for their anxiety but also held strong beliefs that the relaxation helped them cope with symptoms and other issues arising from their cancer experiences.

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Survivorship care plans

Oncology Nursing Forum, 01 July 2014, vol./is. 41/4(447-448)

Behrend, Susan Weiss

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of a telephone counseling program for cancer survivors. The Cancer Survivor Telephone Education and Personal Support (C-STEPS) program was developed to address psychosocial and health behavior outcomes among cancer survivors. According to Garrett et al. (2013), this was the first telephone counseling intervention to simultaneously address psychosocial and health behavior in this patient population.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

New Bereavement Care Service Standards

Bereavement Care, 01 April 2014, vol./is. 33/1(28-32)

Kerslake, Debbie, Chaplin, Dawn, Hartley, Jonathan, Wadey, Anne

The new Bereavement Care Service Standards, developed as part of the Gold Standard Bereavement Care Project, set out what needs to be addressed in order for services to be both safe and effective in meeting the needs of bereaved people. This article outlines the development process, and shows how the Standards can apply to the voluntary sector, NHS service providers, and to individual practitioners.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Bereavement theory: recent developments in our understanding of grief and bereavement

Bereavement Care, 01 April 2014, vol./is. 33/1(7-12)

Hall, Christopher

This article looks at how early stage theories of grief came to be rejected and examines more recent theories which also consider the cognitive, social, cultural and spiritual dimensions of grief and loss. It goes on to highlight emerging trends in bereavement theory, potential complications of grief, and the evidence for the efficacy of grief interventions.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

The emotional labour of caring for patients at the end of life

End of Life Journal, 2014 Spring, Vol/iss 4/1

Deborah Holman

This article will discuss the emotional labour of nursing - defined as the emotional cost to nurses of managing, hiding and suppressing their emotions - and explore the significance and therapeutic value of emotional labour in the lives of patients at the end of life. It will then discuss the implications of emotional labour for the nursing profession in relation to the need to ensure nurses receive more support and education regarding managing their emotions whilst caring for others.

Fulltext available in End of Life Journal

Holistic assessment of a woman admitted to a hospice with anxiety

End of Life Journal, 2014 Spring, Vol/iss 4/1

Rebecca Newman

In advanced disease, symptoms of anxiety can be difficult to differentiate from symptoms of physical disease. Therefore, anxiety states are often undiagnosed in palliative care patients. The aim of the article is to show how a holistic assessment can successfully address anxiety at the end of life. However, it is recommended that formal assessments of psychological well-being are also required for patients with significant psychological needs to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and approaches used. 

Fulltext available in End of Life Journal

Physical exercise and therapy in terminally ill cancer patients: a retrospective feasibility analysis.

Supportive Care in Cancer, May 2014, vol./is. 22/5(1261-8)

Jensen W, Bialy L, Ketels G, Baumann FT, Bokemeyer C, Oechsle K

From this study it was concluded that PE/PT were feasible in >90 % of terminally ill cancer patients to whom PE/PT had been offered. Physical exercises, relaxation therapy, and breathing training were the most frequently applicable methods. Prospective trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of specific PE/PT programs in terminally ill cancer patients.

Facilitating change and adaptation: the experiences of current and bereaved carers of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Journal of Palliative Medicine, April 2014, vol./is. 17/4(421-7)

Philip J, Gold M, Brand C, Miller B, Douglass J, Sundararajan V

This study seeks to understand the experiences and needs of family carers of people with severe COPD.  The impact of caring borne by family carers is substantial and life changing. Health professionals may assist carers in their role through acknowledgement, facilitating recognition of the changes that have occurred (and their implications), and enabling creative adaptive responses for carers. Such assistance is likely to enhance the ability of carers to continue in this demanding role.

When open-ended questions don't work: the role of palliative paternalism in difficult medical decisions

Journal of Palliative Medicine, April 2014, vol./is. 17/4(415-20)

Roeland E, Cain J, Onderdonk C, Kerr K, Mitchell W, Thornberry K

Paternalism, characterized as the antithesis of autonomy, is widely dismissed as having any role in medicine. The authors disagree and argue that paternalism still has an important role in medical decision making.

Use of corticosteroids for anorexia in palliative medicine: a systematic review

Journal of Palliative Medicine, April 2014, vol./is. 17/4(482-5)

Miller S, McNutt L, McCann MA, McCorry N

As a result of this review, the authors conclude that corticosteroids are beneficial in treating anorexia in palliative care patients with malignancies; however there is no evidence for their use in anorexia due to end-stage nonmalignant disease. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any particular corticosteroid drug over another, or to recommend a dosing regimen.

Intimate partner violence in an outpatient palliative care setting

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, April 2014, vol./is. 47/4(806-13)

Culver Wygant CR, Bruera E, Hui D

Palliative care patients may be at high risk for intimate partner violence because they are generally more vulnerable and dependent and more isolated as a result of physical and functional deterioration. In this article, the authors discuss a patient with advanced cancer who experienced IPV in the palliative care setting and use the case to highlight some of the management issues regarding IPV.

Fulltext available Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Dying with dementia: symptoms, treatment, and quality of life in the last week of life

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, April 2014, vol./is. 47/4(710-20)

Hendriks SA, Smalbrugge M, Hertogh CM, van der Steen JT

The aim of this study was to investigate symptom prevalence and prescribed treatment, explore associations with quality of life (QOL) in the last week of life, and examine symptom prevalence by cause of death of nursing home residents with dementia.

Available in fulltext in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Breakthrough cancer pain: the role of the nurse

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, March 2014, vol./is. 20/3(126-9)

Buchanan A, Davies A, Geerling J

Breakthrough pain is common in patients with cancer and is a significant cause of morbidity in this group of patients. Breakthrough pain is a heterogeneous condition, and so its management needs to be individualised. This paper describes the management of breakthrough pain and, specifically, the recently published guidelines of the European Oncology Nursing Society.

Available from EBSCOhost in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Advice from children and adolescents on final conversations with dying loved ones.

Death Studies, 01 May 2014, vol./is. 38/5(308-314)

Keeley, Maureen P., Generous, Mark A.

To understand more about final conversations (communication between loved ones from the point of terminal diagnosis until death), 49 children/adolescents provided final conversation advice for other youth and for the dying person. The main finding was that young people should be included in the death process.

Managing the effects of cardiac cachexia

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, Feb 2014, vol. 16, no. 1, p. 15-20

Carlson, Heather, Dahlin, Constance M.

Although cachexia is common in cancer, it is poorly understood in noncancer diagnoses. This article reviews cancer cachexia in cardiac disease. The definition, pathophysiology, and assessment specific to cardiac disease are delineated. Diagnostic workup is discussed and pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are offered.

Risk factors for developing prolonged grief during bereavement in family carers of cancer patients in palliative care: a longitudinal study

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, March 2014, vol./is. 47/3(531-41)

Thomas K, Hudson P, Trauer T, Remedios C, Clarke D

This study of 301 carers of patients receiving palliative care was conducted across three palliative care services. The authors found that greater bereavement dependency, a spousal relationship to the patient, greater impact of caring on schedule, poor family functioning, and low levels of optimism were risk factors for prolonged grief symptoms. 

They conclude that screening family carers on entry to palliative care seems to be the most effective way of identifying who has a higher risk of developing PG and recommend screening carers six months after the death of their relative to identify most carers with PG.

Available from Elsevier in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

"Spirituality, suffering, and healing": a learning option for Western Australian medical students.

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, March 2014, vol./is. 47/3(659-65)

Bridge DT, Bennett KS

The authors describe a two week learning option they developed for year 5 medical students which emphasizes learning from the patient and from each other.

Available from Elsevier in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Quality of end-of-life care for those who die at home: views and experiences of bereaved relatives and carers

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, February 2014, vol./is. 20/2(63-7)

Lees C, Mayland C, West A, Germaine A.

This paper reports findings from a study in the North West of England that explored bereaved relatives' and carers' experiences of end-of-life care at home using the Care of the Dying Evaluation (CODE) questionnaire. In general good quality care was provided, but there were times when adequate support was not evident in relation to pain control and what to expect when death was imminent. The study provides useful information for those who provide end-of-life care at home.

Available from EBSCOhost in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Music therapy: evaluation of staff perceptions at St Christopher’s Hospice

European Journal of Palliative Care, March-April 2014, Vol/iss 21/2 (72-75)
Giorgos Tsiris, Tamsin Dives and Gerry Prince

Research shows that music therapy can help to reduce pain, improve mood, reduce fatigue and facilitate relaxation and physical comfort. Additionally, it is reported to impact positively on people’s quality of life and spiritual well-being. 

The findings of this study are in alignment with, and complementary to, those of other studies that explored staff and patients’ perceptions of music therapy in other palliative care settings. Participants reported that music therapy can impact positively on the emotional, physical, social, environmental, creative and spiritual aspects of patients’ well-being.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

The art and science of empathy

European Journal of Palliative Care, March-April 2014, Vol/iss 21/2 (69-71)
Viv Lucas

Empathy is a desirable trait for palliative care professionals to have. But is it innate or can it be taught? Following a review of the literature, Viv Lucas argues it can be both. She concludes that it is an innate capability that can be developed through teaching, training, experience, the arts and literature, and is particularly important in palliative care professionals who, through empathic therapeutic relationships, can help incurable patients to heal. 

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Cancer-related fatigue: an updated systematic review of its management

European Journal of Palliative Care, March-April 2014, Vol/iss 21/2 (58-60)
Ollie Minton, Bee Wee and Paddy Stone

In this article, the authors discuss the role of drug and non-drug interventions and the evidence from metaanalyses regarding their effectiveness and potential use in clinical practice.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Death certification: changes in England and Wales

European Journal of Palliative Care, 2014, Vol/iss 21/1 (24-26)
Paul Perkins, Kathryn Griffin, Lynne Tarling, San Sumathipala and Bob Bell 

In England and Wales, the processes around death certification are about to change and this will particularly affect hospices. Paul Perkins, et al explain these changes in the law and what hospices need to do to prepare.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infection in hospices in Scotland

European Journal of Palliative Care, 2014, Vol/iss 21/1 (11-18)
Barbara C Wimmer, Linda Johnstone, Carolyn Mackay, Elayne Harris and Alexander B Mullen

General guidelines on the treatment of urinary tract infections are not always helpful in palliative care settings, argue Barbara C Wimmer, Linda Johnstone, Carolyn Mackay, Elayne Harris and Alexander B Mullen, who have looked at how such guidelines are adhered to in three Scottish hospices and propose alternative treatment charts.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Dementia at the end of life: what can hospices do?

European Journal of Palliative Care, 2014, Vol/iss 21/1 (6-10)
Regan, A; Tapley, M; Jolley, D.

Based on their experience of a new service offered by Willow Wood Hospice in Lancashire, the authors highlight the potential of hospices in helping people with dementia and their carers as the end of life approaches.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

The challenges and suffering of caring for people with primary malignant glioma: qualitative perspectives on improving current supportive and palliative care practices

BMJ Supportive Palliative Care, 2014, Vol/iss 4/1 (68-76)
Collins, A; Lethborg, C; Brand, C; Gold, G; Moore, G; Sundararajan, V; Murphy, M; Philip, J.

Carers of patients with high-grade primary malignant glioma (PMG) are known to face extraordinary challenges, as they care for patients with multiple profound and often devastating physical, cognitive and behavioural changes. This study aimed to understand the supportive and palliative care needs in this setting, with a particular focus upon care at the end-of-life, which has hitherto been neglected. 

Fulltext available in BMJ_Supportive_and_Palliative_Care

Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Palliative social media

BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 2014, Vol/iss 4/1 (13-18)
Taubert, M; Watts, G; Boland, J; Radbruch, L.

The authors focus on how the subject of death and dying has influenced the world of microblogging, how it is fast becoming the focus of research and discuss how this may impact on the professional lives of palliative care workers, in particular around the area of digital legacy building and memorialisation. There is also a brief overview of what else social media can provide for palliative care and bereavement workers in terms of information provision, discussion forums, feedback, opinion gathering and research.

Fulltext available in BMJ_Supportive_and_Palliative_Care
Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Agreement between tele-rehabilitation involving caregivers and face-to-face clinical assessment of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors

Supportive Care in Cancer, January 2014, vol./is. 22/1(253-8)

Galiano-Castillo N, Ariza-Garcia A, Cantarero-Villanueva I, Fernandez-Lao C, Sanchez-Salado C, Arroyo-Morales M

This study aimed to determine the level of agreement between lymphedema assessment by tele-rehabilitation and by the traditional face-to-face method.  Thirty breast cancer survivors participated in a descriptive study of repeated measures using a crossover design. The preliminary findings support the use of an internet-based system to assess lymphedema in breast cancer survivors.