Palliative care strategies offer guidance to clinicians and comfort for COVID-19 patient and families

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Heart & Lung, 2020, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 227-228

Feder; Akgün; Kathleen M.; Schulman-Green, Dena

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused a fast-moving, highly distressing global health crisis. Patients of all ages face daunting illness while healthcare systems struggle to meet the growing demand for services. The need for palliative care (PC) is likely to be substantial, and yet, PC specialists are in short supply. This article examines the special considerations in applying core PC principles during the COVID-19 crisis as well as targeted strategies to support patients and families.

Constructing stability - a classic grounded theory of next-of-kin in palliative cancer care

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BMC Palliative Care, 2020, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 1-9

Werkander, Harstade; Sandgren, Anna

Being next-of-kin to someone with cancer requiring palliative care involves a complex life situation. Changes in roles and relationships might occur and the next-of-kin thereby try to adapt by being involved in the ill person’s experiences and care even though they can feel unprepared for the care they are expected to provide. The aim of this study was to develop a classic grounded theory of next-of-kin in palliative cancer care. The theory shows the complexities of being next-of-kin to someone receiving palliative care, while striving to construct stability.

End-of-life decisions and care in the midst of a global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, 2020, vol. 58

Pattison, Natalie

This article examines the unprecedented and unfolding global situation with Coronavirus (the virus SaRS Cov-2, leading to the disease named COVID-19) (WHO, 2020) which has forced health care providers across the world to consider end-of-life issues in a very rapidly changing scenario.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychosocial and Family Support

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Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2020, vol. 23, no. 2, pp.280-286

Farabelli, Jill P.; Kimberly, Sharon M.; Altilio, Terry; et al.

Palliative care (PC) is perhaps the most inherently interdisciplinary specialty within health care. Comprehensive PC is delivered by a core team of physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, pharmacists, and others who address the broad range of medical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of those living with serious illness. While PC clinicians are typically skilled in screening for distress, the best path to follow when patients screen positive for psychosocial distress or exhibit mental health challenges may not always be clear. This article brings together the perspectives of experienced social workers practicing across PC and hospice settings. It seeks to identify opportunities and rationale for the integration of palliative social work (PSW) in the provision of quality, person-centered, family-focused, and culturally congruent care for the seriously ill. Increasing recognition of the impact of social determinants of health highlights the critical importance of including PSW if we are to better understand and ultimately address the broad range of factors that influence people's quality of life.

Memento Mori: Can art assist student nurses to explore death and dying? A qualitative study.

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Nurse Education Today, 2020, vol. 89

Nicol, Jane; Pocock, Mary

This report looks at how an art-based workshop assisted undergraduate nursing students to explore their experiences and beliefs about death and dying. While this study focused on an educational strategy delivered to student nurses, it is an approach that could be used with other health and social care professionals. Close and critical observation of the selected art increased participant understanding and insight of the many experiences and interpretations of death and dying.

A Palliative Care Program for Volunteers in a Community Setting: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 2020, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 455-464

Lee, Jiwon; Lee, Jong-Eun

The objective of community-based palliative care is to improve the quality of life of patients and their families and to share the responsibility of caregiving. However, the evidence of the efficacy of volunteer services in community-based palliative care is insufficient. This pilot study sought to uncover the feasibility and efficacy of a volunteer program in palliative care. In conclusion, a palliative care program was found to be useful for volunteers in finding meaning in life, motivating continued volunteering. Moreover, caregivers were satisfied with the palliative care service of volunteers.

A feasibility and acceptability study of an adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion program for adult cancer patients

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Palliative & Supportive Care,2020, vol. 18, no 2, pp. 130-140

Brooker, Joanne; Julian, John; Millar, Jeremy et al.

Psychosocial interventions that mitigate psychosocial distress in cancer patients are important. The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program among adult cancer patients. A secondary aim was to examine pre–post-program changes in psychosocial wellbeing.

Impact of informal cancer caregiving across the cancer experience: A systematic literature review of quality of life

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Palliative & Supportive Care, 2020, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 220-240
Ochoq, Carol; Buchnam Lunsford, N; Lee Smith, Judith

Informal caregiving may likely increase as the number of cancer survivors grows. Caregiving responsibilities can impact caregivers’ quality of life (QOL). Understanding the current state of the science regarding caregiving QOL could help inform future research and intervention development.