Palliative care for severely affected patients with multiple sclerosis: when and why? Results of a delphi survey of health care professionals

Journal of Palliative Medicine, October 2014, vol./is. 17/10(1128-36)Strupp J, Romotzky V, Galushko M, Golla H, Voltz R

The objective was to use a Delphi survey to analyse when and why specialised palliative care integration would be beneficial via examining health care professionals' attitudes.  The results identify specific areas in which palliative care will likely prove to be a valuable asset in the treatment course of MS.

Breathlessness, functional status, distress, and palliative care needs over time in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer: a cohort study

Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, October 2014, vol./is. 48/4(569-581.e1)Weingaertner V, Scheve C, Gerdes V, Schwarz-Eywill M, Prenzel R, Bausewein C, Higginson IJ, Voltz R, Herich L, Simon ST, PAALiativ Project, PAALiativ Project

The objective of this paper is to describe and compare the courses of refractory breathlessness, functional status, distress, and PC needs in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer (LC) over time. The authors conclude that the PC needs of patients with advanced COPD are comparable with LC patients, and breathlessness severity and distress are even higher. 

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Learning, development, and support needs of community palliative care clinical nurse specialists

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, September 2014, vol./is. 20/9(425-33)

Whittaker E, Kernohan WG, McLaughlin D

The aim of this study was to explore what learning, development, and support PC-CNSs in one hospice need to enable them to fulfil all components of their role: clinical practice, education, research, and leadership and management.  They identified that both organisational culture and individuals themselves influenced the learning and development support available. Working relationships and stability within teams affected how supported individuals felt and had implications for managers in meeting the needs of staff while balancing the needs of the service.

Full text available in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Neuropathic pain in people with cancer (part 1): incidence, manifestation, and assessment

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, September 2014, vol./is. 20/9(442-7)

Taverner T

Nurses are well placed to identify patients with possible signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain. Part 1 of this paper provides an overview of neuropathic cancer pain incidence, manifestation, and assessment; part 2 will address management.

Full text available in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Psychosocial, educational and communicative interventions for patients with cachexia and their family carers

Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, December 2014, vol./is. 8/4(334-8)

Reid J

Full text available in Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

Indications and practice of artificial hydration for terminally ill cancer patients

Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, December 2014, vol./is. 8/4(358-63)

Nakajima N, Satake N, Nakaho T

The purpose of this review is to update medical professionals on the role of artificial hydration in terminally ill cancer patients and to highlight recent research.

Full text available in Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

Role of corticosteroids for fatigue in advanced incurable cancer: is it a 'wonder drug' or 'deal with the devil'

Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, December 2014, vol./is. 8/4(346-51)

Yennurajalingam S, Bruera E

This review summarizes recent literature on the impact of corticosteroids on fatigue, its related symptoms, and the role of 'corticosteroid rotation' in improving the corticosteroid-related side-effects.  The two recently published artilces found confirm the short-term benefits for the symptomatic treatment of cancer-related fatigue and anorexia cachexia in advanced incurable cancer. Long-term use of corticosteroids is not recommended at this time because of the risk of debilitating side-effects and no evidence of its long-term benefits. Recent studies also suggest the possible role of corticosteroid rotation or switching similar to opioid rotation for improvement of these side-effects.

Full text available in Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

End-of-life matters in chronic heart failure patients

Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, December 2014, vol./is. 8/4(364-70)
Sobanski P, Jaarsma T, Krajnik M

The purpose of this review is to provide an update on current end-of-life issues specific to heart failure patients, including a proposed new model of end-of-life trajectories which takes into account the influence of comorbidities on the prognosis of heart failure and advance care planning for patients with implanted cardiac devices which has been shown to be unsatisfactory. A recent strategy for managing implantable cardioverter defibrillators in patients approaching death is presented.

Full text available in Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

Cancer-related insomnia

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, November 2014, vol./is. 31/7(777-85)

Induru RR, Walsh D.

An overview of the assessment and management of insomnia in cancer patients is presented.

Persistent hiccups in advanced neuro-oncology patients: findings from a descriptive phenomenological study

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, Oct 2014, vol/iss 16/7(396-401)

Palese, Alvisa, Condolo, Giulio, Dobrina, Raffaella, Skrap, Miran

According to the patients' experience, living with persistent hiccups was characterized by 3 main themes: (a) resignation to its unpredictable nature; (b) despair that there is nothing worse than hiccups; and (c) learning to control the pauses. In trying to interrupt hiccups, patients learn to control their pauses, lengthening the interval between 1 spasm and the next, thereby achieving an acceptable level of symptom discomfort.

Identification and validation of premortem purge: a delphi study

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, Oct 2014, vol/iss 16/7 (430-437)

Schreiber, Tanya P., Bennett, Marsha J.

Anecdotal accounts offered by nurses suggest that some individuals in the final phase of dying experience a sudden, unexpected surge of energy and enhanced mental clarity, varying in intensity and duration. The Delphi method was used to systematically collect observations, opinions, and perceptions of the phenomenon, labeled premortem surge (PS).