What role do death doulas play in end-of-life care? A systematic review

Health and Social Care in the Community, 2018, September 26th

Deb Rawlings; Jennifer Tieman; Lauren Miller-Lewis; Kate Swetenham

A systematic review was conducted to explore the role and potential implications for models of care delivery. Included were articles that describe the role/work of a death doula or a death midwife in the context of end-of-life care, or death and dying. 

Fulltext available in Health and Social Care in the Community

Beyond the bucket list: unfinished business among advanced cancer patients

Psycho-oncology, 2018 27(11) p.2573-2580

Masterson M.P.; Slivjak E.; Breitbart W.; et al

This study aimed to examine the prevalence and common themes of unfinished business (UB) and its associations with distress among advanced cancer patients. The authors conclude that unfinished business was both prevalent and distressing in their sample and that their findings underscore the need to develop and implement interventions designed to help patients resolve or find solace with UB.

Fulltext available in  Psycho-oncology

Instruments to evaluate complexity in end-of-life care

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 2018 12(4) p. 480-88

Martin-Rosello, Maria Luisa; Sanz-Amores, Maria Reyes; Salvador-Comino, Maria Rosa

This review presents the state of art of the role of complexity in specialist palliative care provision. Complexity science, complexity frameworks, as well as tools evaluating complexity in palliative care are described.

Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about parkinson's disease and related disorders

Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2018 21(10)  p.1507-1517
Katz, Maya; Galifianakis, Nicholas B.; Goto, Yuika; et al

A team of Parkinson's Disease and Palliative Care experts assemble practical tips for the care of people with PD. The "Top 10" format emphasizes the most relevant issues to enable PC clinicians to provide optimal care for those suffering with this complex neurodegenerative disease.

Cultural factors influencing advance care planning in progressive, incurable disease: a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2018 56(4) p.613-636

McDermott, Ella; Selman, Lucy Ellen

Low uptake of advance care planning indicates it is less acceptable to patients of some cultural backgrounds. The objectives of this study were to explore how cultural factors influence ACP for patients with progressive, incurable disease and how ACP might be made cross-culturally appropriate.

Benzodiazepines for agitation in patients with delirium: selecting the right patient, right time, and right indication

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 2018 12(4) p.489-94

Hui, David

This review provides an evidence-based synopsis on the role of benzodiazepines in patients with agitated delirium.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in hospice and palliative Care: a systematic review

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2018 56(5) p.781-94

Zeng, Yvette S; Wang, Connie; Ward, Kristina E; Hume, Anne L

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the available evidence on the use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) in hospice and palliative care and to summarize their potential benefits. Therapies included acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy massage, breathing, hypnotherapy, massage, meditation, music therapy, reflexology, and reiki.

Top ten tips for palliative care clinicians caring for heart failure patients

Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2018 21(11) p.1646-1650
Warraich, Haider Javed; Rogers, Joseph G.; Dunlay, Shannon M.; Hummel, Ellen; Mentz, Robert J.

Continuing the 'Top Ten Tips' series, a team of experts provide high-yield tips to address challenges faced by palliative care clinicians in the management of patients with heart failure.

An Admiral Nursing and hospice partnership in end-of-life care: innovative practice

Dementia, 2018 October 22
Karen Harrison Dening, Jaqueline Crowther, Sadaf Adnan

In partnership with Dementia UK Kirkwood Hospice in West Yorkshire embarked upon a two-year pilot to introduce the first end-of-life care Admiral Nurse to their Specialist Community Palliative Care Team to identify and support people with dementia who required palliative and end-of-life care. This paper describes and discusses this innovative partnership and outcomes from year one evaluation and sets out its future plans.

Allow natural death versus do-not-resuscitate: titles, information contents, outcomes, and the considerations related to do-not-resuscitate decision

BMC Palliative Care 2018, 17:114 | Published on: 10 October 2018 

Sheng-Yu Fan, Ying-Wei Wang and I-Mei Lin

The aims of this study were to explore: (1) how “allow a natural death” versus “do not resuscitate” and specific scenarios and outcomes, influence the willingness to sign a DNR order; and (2) the information needs and consideration of the DNR decisions, and the benefits and barriers of the DNR discussion, in the general population.

Fulltext available in BMC Palliative Care

Hope tree: an interactive art installation to facilitate the expression of hope in a hospice setting

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 2018 35(10) p.1273-1279
Collins, Andrew; Bhathal, Darpanjot; Field, Tara; Larlee, Randene; Paje, Rachael; Young, Daneen

Patients can continue to have hope or be hopeful, even in the face of a terminal illness. In this paper the authors address the question 'Can participation in a creative writing practice improve the expression of hope in a hospice setting?' Each expressed hope placed on the "Hope Tree" was independently coded by all research team members utilizing inductive content analysis. Eight major themes emerged from the data: "Peace," "Dreams," "Total well-being," "Acknowledgment of loss," "Relationships," "Hospice care," "Spirituality," and "Dichotomies." It was concluded that the Hope Tree is a creative art project that can be used within a hospice environment to promote hope among family members and the health-care professionals who care for patients.

The ‘good death’ and reduced capacity: a literature review

Mortality; Nov 2018; vol. 23 (no. 4); p. 381-395
Read, Simon; MacBride-Stewart, Sara

This review explores the themes that contribute to a good death, specifically examining their applicability to those who lack mental capacity to make their own decisions. Largely the literature on a ‘good death’ builds on an underlying assumption that the dying patient is cognisant and capable of rationalising their death. The authors suggest that specific consideration is required on how to achieve a ‘good death’ for those with reduced capacity.

On healing and palliative care

European Journal of Palliative Care, 2018 25(3)  p.134-137

Lucas, Viv

Modern medicine has become so entrenched with the requirement for evidence, skills, competencies, outcomes and conformity that the concept of healing has been almost entirely forgotten. Viv Lucas investigates healing and what it means both as a concept generally and to palliative care specifically.

Fulltext available in European Journal of Palliative Care

Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge

Psychological ideas in palliative care: distress, adjustment and coping

European Journal of Palliative Care, 2018 25(3) p.120-124
Strachan, Jenny; Clark, Lucy

Many patients, family and staff use the word ‘traumatic’ when discussing end-of-life experiences. As with many terms considered in this series, ‘trauma’ and ‘traumatised’ mean something more specific in a clinical sense than they do in common usage. The authors consider what it means to be traumatised, and how the condition might be recognised and managed in a palliative care setting?

Fulltext available in European Journal of Palliative Care

Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Cambridge

Creating a legacy -- a tool to support end-of-life patients

European Journal of Palliative Care, 2018 25(3)  p.116-119
Vidal, Carolina; Gonçalves, Ana Luísa; Pavoeiro, Marta

Beside the psychological impact, there is increasing evidence that creating a legacy alleviates physical symptoms.  In this paper, the authors explore the concept  and creation of legacy, explaining the physical and spiritual benefits for both patients and their carers/families.

Fulltext available in European Journal of Palliative Care
Available in print in the Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Cambridge

Music therapy in UK palliative and end-of-life care: a service evaluation

BMJ supportive & palliative care; Sep 2018; vol. 8 (no. 3); p. 282-284
Graham-Wisener, Lisa; Watts, Grace; Kirkwood, Jenny; Harrison, Craig; McEwan, Joan; Porter, Sam; Reid, Joanne; McConnell, Tracey Helena

This service evaluation aims to identify the provision, role and perceived impact of UK music therapists in supporting patients receiving palliative and end of life care (PEOLC), their families and health and social care professionals. It was found that although the evidence suggests that provision of music therapy in UK PEOLC settings in the past 10 years has increased, lack of sustainable funding means the role is not consistently accessible in this setting.

Integrated breathlessness services for people with chronic conditions

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 2018 12(3) p.227-231

Bausewein, Claudia; Schumacher, Philipp; Bolzani, Anna

This review aims to describe recent studies evaluating the effects of breathlessness services for patients with advanced chronic conditions. The authors suggest that as the prevalence of breathlessness due to advanced disease is high and increasing, more such services should be provided to support patients throughout the course of their disease.