Heart failure and palliative care: training needs assessment to guide priority learning of multiprofessionals working across different care settings

Current Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, March 2015, vol./is. 9/1(31-7)

Millerick Y, Armstrong I.

The results of the training needs assessment showed that the majority of respondents had some level of training needs to underpin their existing knowledge and skills in relation to palliative care, heart failure or both.

Full text available in Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

Using Skype to facilitate presence at the end of life

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, Dec 2014, vol. 16, no. 8, p. 489-494

Flanagan, Jane, DeSanto-Madeya, Susan, Simms, Benjamin

The authors report on the use of Skype to allow family members who would not have otherwise been able to be present at the bedside during the dying process to actively participate in the experience. For the two families involved, the utilization of Skype at the bedside facilitated a sense of closure around the dying experience.

Odor management in fungating wounds With metronidazole: a systematic review

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, Feb 2015, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 73-79

de Castro, Diana L. V., Santos, Vera Lucia C. G.

Odor is one of the main characteristics of malignant fungating wounds and is caused by the interaction of aerobic and anaerobic microbiota that colonizes and infects wounds. Although we did not find strong scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of metronidazole in odor control through randomized clinical studies or meta-analyses, this study provides the best available evidence thus far for the efficacy of 0.75% to 0.8% metronidazole in the odor control of malignant fungating wounds. 

A model for art therapy–based supervision for end-of-life care workers in Hong Kong

Death Studies, 01 January 2015, vol./is. 39/1(44-51)

Potash, Jordan S., Chan, Faye, Ho, Andy H. Y., Wang, Xiao Lu, Cheng, Carol

Supervision is one important way to provide adequate support for end of life care workers and volunteers that focuses on both professional and personal competencies. The inclusion of art therapy principles and practices within supervision further creates a dynamic platform for sustained self-reflection. A 6-week art therapy–based supervision group provided opportunities for developing emotional awareness, recognizing professional strengths, securing collegial relationships, and reflecting on death-related memories. The structure, rationale, and feedback are discussed.

Palliative and end of life care Priority Setting Partnership (PeolcPSP): Putting patients, carers and clinicians at the heart of palliative and end of life care research (report)

Marie Curie Cancer Care, January 2015

Marie Curie Cancer Care have published a report revealing the top 10 most important unanswered questions or evidence uncertainties in palliative and end of life care, identified and prioritised by patients, carers and health and social care professionals, to inform the future of palliative and end of life care research.

Follow this link for the full report

'Going for Gold’ helps to improve access to better end of life care

Guidelines in Practice (website), 2015

Professor Keri Thomas reviews updated end of life care guidance and policy, challenging healthcare professionals to identify patients’ needs earlier and improve communication

Follow this link for the website   (Select the 'Clinical topics' tab, 'E' from the topic A-Z, 'End of life care' from the menu. The results will appear below)