Metastatic spinal cord compression: diagnosis and management

BMJ, May 2016
Rasha Al-Qurainy; Emily Collis

This clinical review focuses on the causes, presentation and management of MSCC as a result of extradural masses.

Fulltext available in the  BMJ

Desire for hastened death: how do professionals in specialized palliative care react?

Psycho-oncology, May 2016, vol. 25, no. 5, p. 536-543

Galushko, M, Frerich, G, Perrar, K M, Golla, H, Radbruch, L, Nauck, F, Ostgathe, C, Voltz, R

This study aimed to identify the responses of health professionals working in specialist palliative care to patients' desire for hastened death (DHD).  It identified a number of responses that related to the patients and to themselves as practitioners. The authors concluded that profound personal and professional development that strengthens their own resilience is necessary to respond to the challenges presented by DHD as well as establishing helpful relationships with patients.

Consensus norms for palliative care of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe

European Association of Palliative Care: White Paper, April 2015

This White Paper provides guidance on the care of people with intellectual disabilities and includes background information on its development, research evidence, practice examples and further resources.

Click here to access the document

Advance care planning in motor neuron disease: A qualitative study of caregiver perspectives

Palliative Medicine, May 2016, vol. 30, no. 5, p. 471-478
Murray, Leigh, Butow, Phyllis N, White, Kate, Kiernan, Matthew C, D'Abrew, Natalie, Herz, Helen

This study aimed to explore the acceptability and impact of advance care planning from the point of view of caregivers.  Many of those who took part thought that the ACP document helped, or would help, in terms of patient autonomy, facilitating difficult decision-making and improving communication within families. The authors noted that the timing and manner of its introduction required sensitivity to avoid potential harms in approaching the subject too soon.

Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Brookfields Hospital

A systematic review of reasons for gatekeeping in palliative care research

Palliative medicine, Jun 2016, vol. 30, no. 6, p. 533-548

Kars, Marijke C, van Thiel, Ghislaine Jmw, van der Graaf, Rieke, Moors, Marleen, de Graeff, Alexander, van Delden, Johannes Jm

Gatekeeping - preventing eligible patients from inclusion in research - is thought to be the reason for the failure of many studies in palliative care.  This review sought to identify potential gatekeepers and explore their reasons for blocking patients' participation.

Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Brookfields Hospital

Factors influencing Australian general practitioners' clinical decisions regarding advance care planning: a factorial survey

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Apr 2016, vol. 51, no. 4, p. 718

Sinclair, Craig, Gates, Kiri, Evans, Sharon, Auret, Kirsten Anne

In this study, the authors found that the likelihood of initiating ACP was influenced by GP attitudes and psychosocial aspects of the doctor-patient relationship. They suggest that to encourange engagement with the process, training needs to be targeted at attitudes towards ACP and communication skills.

Underrecognition and undertreatment of pain and behavioral symptoms in end-stage dementia

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Apr 2016, vol. 31, no. 3, p. 276-280

Brecher, David B., West, Tasheba L.

Symptoms in end-stage dementia are often under-recognised and under-treated because of the patients' reduced ability to communicate.  This article highlights the role of assessment scales and pain management in improving behavioral symptoms.  It also explores how an interdisciplinary team approach can develop a care plan to optimise patient care.

Management of breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer: a narrative review

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Apr 2016, vol. 31, no. 3, p. 286-290

Lok, Chan Wing

This article reviews the etiology, assessment and measurement of dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer and  both the pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions that will provide the greatest relief.

Hospice palliative care volunteers: a review of commonly encountered stressors, how they cope with them, and implications for volunteer training/management

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Mar 2016, vol. 31, no. 2, p. 201-204

Claxton-Oldfield, Stephen

The results of this review suggest that hospice volunteers generally do not perceive their work as highly stressful.  However, potential challenges and the ways in which the volunteers coped with them were identified. 

Hospital at home: home-based end-of-life care

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Online Publication Date: February 2016 

Sasha Shepperd, Daniela C Gonçalves-Bradley, Sharon E Straus, Bee Wee

The evidence included in this review supports the use of home-based end-of-life care programmes for increasing the number of people who will die at home, although the numbers of people admitted to hospital while receiving end-of-life care should be monitored. Future research should systematically assess the impact of home-based end-of-life care on caregivers.

Fulltext available here

Live Discharge from Hospice and the Grief Experience of Dementia Caregivers

Journal of Social Work in End-of-life & Palliative Care 2016, 12 (1-2): 47-62
Stephanie P Wladkowski

This qualitative study (N = 24) explored the experience of caregivers of adults with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, who experienced a 'live' discharge from hospice. Specifically, the experience of grief is examined.  It concludes that hospice social workers are well positioned to offer emotional and other concrete support to caregivers who experience a 'live' discharge.

Te Kete Marie - the peaceful basket: an initiative for supporting people with dementia or delirium

International Journal of Palliative Nursing 2016, 22 (3): 130-6

Leanne Bolton, Tanya Loveard

Having identified the challenge to staff on an inpatient unit of caring for an increasing number of patients with dementia and delirium, an occupational therapist and two nurses developed a toolkit to improve their care.  The initiative took place in a hospice in New Zealand and the authors hope that sharing their findings will enable it to be duplicated in similar settings.

Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Cambridge

Development and efficacy of music therapy techniques within palliative care

Complementary therapies in clinical practice, May 2016, vol./is. 23/(125-129)

Clements-Cortés, Amy

The author presents an overview of music therapy techniques used with palliative care patients with reference to the descriptive and research literature.  She also discusses its role in the grieving and bereavement process.