European Journal of Palliative Care, March/April 2015, vol/iss 22/2, p84-89
Kate
Heaps and Di Marks-Maran
There
is often insufficient support in the community to enable people to die at home. The authors describe an integrated care project established
in 2011 in the London borough of Greenwich, which enables more patients, and
their carers, to receive appropriate care and support in their homes at the end
of life.
Fulltext available in European Journal of Palliative Care
Available in print in Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital
A current awareness bulletin produced by the library service at Arthur Rank Hospice
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
End-of-life care for cystic fibrosis patients – part 1
European Journal of Palliative Care, March/April 2015, vol/iss 22/2, p74-77
Julia
Nightingale and Irfan Shafiq
From
lung transplantation to advance care planning, from symptom control to place of
death, this paper reviews the key issues arising when
caring for patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
Fulltext available in European Journal of Palliative Care
Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital
Young adult palliative care: challenges and opportunities
American
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Feb 2015, vol. 32, no. 1, p.
101-111
Clark,
Jennifer K., Fasciano, Karen
This review examines the current data pertinent
to young adult palliative care and discusses the challenges and opportunities
where palliative medicine can enhance the care provided to this growing and
vulnerable population.
Difficulties in caring for a patient with cancer at the end of life at home and complicated grief
American
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Mar 2015, vol. 32, no. 2, p.
173-177
Ando,
Michiyo, Ninosaka, Yasuyoshi, Okamura, Kazuhisa, Ishi, Yoko
This study aimed to investigate
difficulties in caring for a patient with cancer at the end of life at home and
to examine relationships between difficulties with care and complicated grief. The results suggest that the condition of the
patient, the view of the caregiver on home care, and the absence of other
support are important factors contributing to difficulties of family
caregivers, and that these difficulties may lead to complicated grief.
A mixed-methods qualitative research study to develop a complex intervention for weight loss and anorexia in advanced cancer: the Family Approach to Weight and Eating
Palliative
medicine, Feb 2015, vol. 29, no. 2, p. 164-176
Hopkinson,
Jane B, Richardson, Alison
A mixed-methods process informed by the Medical
Research Council's guidelines for developing a complex intervention was used to
develop a psychosocial intervention for patients with incurable cancer and
weight loss or poor appetite and their family caregivers and then to test for
its feasibility, acceptability and perceived benefit. 15 of the patient/caregiver dyads reported benefits of the Family
Approach to Weight and Eating. The intervention should now be tested in a pilot trial and the effect on emotional health
outcomes in patients and their family caregivers evaluated.
Fulltext available in Palliative
Medicine
Available in print in
Breaking bad news about transitions to dying: a qualitative exploration of the role of the District Nurse
Palliative Medicine, Feb 2015, vol. 29, no. 2, p. 138-146
Griffiths,
Jane, Ewing, Gail, Wilson, Charlotte, Connolly, Michael, Grande, Gunn
Patients and families need to know the patient is
approaching the dying phase, yet evidence suggests breaking bad news about the
patient's transition to dying rarely happens. The authors suggest that while District Nurses are ideally placed to carry out this work, it is complex and they are
unprepared for it. They conclude that DNs urgently need carefully tailored training in this
aspect of their work, to enable them to provide optimal end of life care.
Fulltext available in Palliative
Medicine
Available in print in
The management of secondary lower limb lymphoedema in cancer patients: a systematic review
Palliative
Medicine, Feb 2015, vol. 29, no. 2, p. 112-119
Leung,
Elaine Y L, Tirlapur, Seema A, Meads, Catherine
The authors evaluate the available evidence for the
treatment of secondary lower limb lymphoedema in patients with malignancies.
Fulltext available in Palliative
Medicine
Available in print in
The prevention and management of pressure ulcers: summary of updated NICE guidance
Journal
of Wound Care, Apr 2015, vol. 24, no. 4, p. 179-184
Cooper, L,
Vellodi, C, Stansby, G, Avital, L
Conducting research interviews with bereaved family carers: when do we ask?
Journal
of Palliative Medicine, Mar 2015, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 241-245
Bentley,
Brenda, O'Connor, Moira
The aim of this study was to explore the
insights of bereaved family carers about the most appropriate time to be
involved in a research interview about the end of life and death of their
family member. The findings indicate that interviews with the bereaved may be most fruitful for
researchers and beneficial to family carers when they are allowed to make the
choice about timing for themselves, beginning weeks after the death of their
family member.
Intravenous lidocaine for cancer pain without electrocardiographic monitoring: a retrospective review
Journal
of Palliative Medicine, Apr 2015, vol. 18, no. 4, p. 373-377
Peixoto,
Renata D'Alpino, Hawley, Pippa
The
belief that cardiac monitoring is required for safe administration of intravenous lidocaine is a barrier
to access in the palliative care setting. The authors argue that their protocol
of infusional lidocaine can be beneficial to patients with cancer with severe
opioid-refractory pain, and can safely be administered with close observation
and vital sign monitoring, without ECG monitoring. They conclude this
treatment could be delivered in palliative care units, hospices, or even
patients' homes, providing suitable nursing supervision can be provided.
Efficacy and safety of gabapentin for uremic pruritus and restless legs syndrome in conservatively managed patients with chronic kidney disease
Journal
of Pain and Symptom Management, Apr 2015, vol. 49, no. 4, p. 782-789
Cheikh
Hassan, Hicham I, Brennan, Frank, Collett, Gemma, Josland, Elizabeth A, Brown, Mark
A
Fulltext available in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Available in print in
Bed care for patients in palliative settings: considering risks to caregivers and bed surfaces
International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Feb 2015, vol. 21, no. 2, p. 66-70
Fragala, Guy
When
moving and positioning patients in bed, health professionals face an
occupational risk of injury. The turning and positioning (TAP) system is a new
method of moving patients in bed, that evidence has shown to reduce the risk of
injury to caregivers. Providing the correct bed surface is another aspect of
bed care essential to the comfort of the palliative patient, and to aid wound
prevention and treatment. This article
provides an overview and discussion of these two aspects of bed care for
palliative patients.
Fulltext available in International
Journal of Palliative Nursing
Availablein print in
The unmet palliative care needs of those dying with dementia
International
Journal of Palliative Nursing, Mar 2015, vol. 21, no. 3, p. 126-133
Dempsey,
Laura, Dowling, Maura, Larkin, Philip, Murphy, Kathy
The
literature suggests that people with end-stage dementia are still not receiving
adequate or appropriate end of life care. Difficulty diagnosing dementia, a stigma
surrounding the disease, lack of education of the dementia disease process and
the ability to identify complications encountered at end-stage dementia by
health-care providers, families and carers are some of the factors preventing
those with dementia receiving effective EoLC.
Full text available in International
Journal of Palliative Nursing
Available in print in
Development of a questionnaire to measure the key attributes of the community palliative care specialist nurse role
International
Journal of Palliative Nursing, Feb 2015, vol. 21, no. 2, p. 87-95
Cameron,
Dee, Johnston, Bridget
Since the role of specialist nurses is
considered one of the least understood or valued developments in nursing,
specialist nurses must demonstrate their contribution to quality,
person-centred health care. The Quality Measure for Palliative Nursing is
unique since it aims to measure the quality of care provided by community
palliative care specialist nurses, and could also be used to measure patient
satisfaction with the quality of care provided.
Fulltext available in International
Journal of Palliative Nursing
Available in print in
Continuous subcutaneous infusion in palliative care: a review of current practice
International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Feb 2015, vol. 21, no. 2, p. 60-64
Thomas,
Tabitha, Barclay, Stephen
Syringe
drivers are widely used in palliative care, and this article reviews the
challenges and outstanding questions associated with their use. Misperceptions
among the lay public and some health professionals can be addressed by
sensitive communication with patients and families and clear thinking in
clinical teams concerning the drugs and doses used, particularly in
non-malignant disease. Good levels of knowledge concerning syringe driver use
has been found among GPs and community nurses, although this is not the case in
some nursing home teams. The advantages of newer devices, safety and efficacy
of drug combinations, selection of diluent, and management of site reactions
are discussed.
Full
Text:
Fulltext in International
Journal of Palliative Nursing
Available in print in
Friday, 17 April 2015
Care of the human spirit and the role of dignity therapy: a systematic review of dignity therapy research
BMC
palliative care, Jan 2015, vol. 14, p. 8
Fitchett,
George, Emanuel, Linda, Handzo, George, Boyken, Lara, Wilkie, Diana J
Dignity
Therapy (DT), an intervention for people facing serious illness, focuses on
dignity conservation tasks such as settling relationships, sharing words of love,
and preparing a legacy document for loved ones. The authors found that although patients reported high levels of satisfaction and benefits for themselves and their families, the effects on physical and emotional symptoms were inconsistent. They point to three areas for future research on DT.
Common therapeutic factors in bereavement groups
Death
Studies, 01 March 2015, vol./is. 39/3(165-172)
Rice,
Alexander
The
author integrates research on group therapy processes and treatment for grief,
and examines evidence regarding group therapeutic factors that may influence
bereavement group outcomes. Potential research
examining the interactions of these processes, their effects on group
functioning and outcomes, and the moderators of these effects are discussed.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
The third wave of palliative care
Journal
of Palliative Care, Dec 2014, vol. 30, no. 4, p. 287-290
Cellarius,
Victor
In 1994, in
an article that distilled a collection of discussions that had been simmering
over the previous decade, David Clark asked whether hospice-palliative care was
entering a second wave. At the time, hospice-palliative care was becoming
bigger, more medical and technical, more research- and evidence-based, and more
bureaucratic. The discussions were deeply evaluative ones, often pitting the
original hospice-palliative care focus on the meaning of dying, life, and
death, against the more recent focus on symptom relief and patient-guided
quality of life. The question underlying those discussions has reappeared, for
it seems that palliative
care is entering a new wave once again.
Full text available
in Journal of Palliative
Care
Can comprehensive specialised end-of-life care be provided at home? Lessons from a study of an innovative consultant-led community service in the UK
European
Journal of Cancer Care, March 2015, vol./is. 24/2(253-66)
Noble B,
King N, Woolmore A, Hughes P, Winslow M, Melvin J, Brooks J, Bravington A,
Ingleton C, Bath PA
Using a mixed method approach, the evaluation
comprised: a retrospective analysis of secondary-care use in the last year of
life; financial evaluation of the Midhurst Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care
Service (MMSPCS) using an Activity Based Costing
approach; qualitative interviews with patients, carers, health and social care
staff and MMSPCS staff and volunteers; a postal survey of General Practices;
and a postal survey of bereaved caregivers using the MMSPCS.
Full text available in European Journal of Cancer Care
Desire for hastened death: exploring the emotions and the ethics
Current
Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, March 2015, vol./is. 9/1(64-71)
Branigan M
Studies
confirm that DHD is not always a request to die. Clarifying the intention
behind the desire and exploring the individual factors and underlying reasons
behind the wish have been described. We have a
professional responsibility to mindfully explore with the patient the suffering
that can be relieved and the suffering that remains.
Full text available in Current Opinion in
Supportive and Palliative Care
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