Palliative & supportive care
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Palliat Support Care · Oct 2017
Portuguese validation of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire-Predeath (PG-12): Psychometric properties and correlates.
This study aimed to contribute to the validation of the Portuguese version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire-Predeath (PG-12), examining its psychometric properties, including factorial, discriminant, and predictive validity. The prevalence of predeath prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and its psychosocial correlates were also analyzed. ⋯ The PG-12 can be a useful screening tool for early identification of risk for maladjustment to loss among family caregivers.
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Palliat Support Care · Aug 2017
Effect of a spiritual care training program for staff on patient outcomes.
Physicians and nurses do not assess spirituality routinely, even though spiritual care is a vital part of palliative care for patients with an advanced serious illness. The aim of our study was to determine whether a training program for healthcare professionals on spirituality and the taking of a spiritual history would result in improved patient quality of life (QoL) and spiritual well-being. ⋯ A brief spiritual care training program can possibly help bring about enhanced improvement of global patient QoL, but the effect on patients' spiritual well-being was not as evident in our participants. Further study with larger sample sizes is needed to allow for more definite conclusions to be drawn.
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Palliat Support Care · Aug 2017
Palliative care during the final week of life of older people in nursing homes: A register-based study.
Our aim was to explore the presence of symptoms, symptom relief, and other key aspects of palliative care during the final week of life among older people residing in nursing homes. ⋯ There were large variations in degree of relief from different symptoms during the final week of life. Pain was the most prevalent symptom, and it was also the symptom with the highest proportion of total/partial relief. Other symptoms were less prevalent but also less well-relieved. Our results indicate a need for improvement of palliative care in nursing home settings, focusing on management of distressing symptoms and promotion of end-of-life discussions.
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Palliat Support Care · Jun 2017
Factors associated with patient preferences for communication of bad news.
Communication based on patient preferences can alleviate their psychological distress and is an important part of patient-centered care for physicians who have the task of conveying bad news to cancer patients. The present study aimed to explore the demographic, medical, and psychological factors associated with patient preferences with regard to communication of bad news. ⋯ Patient preferences with regard to communication of bad news are associated with factors related to patient background. Physicians should consider these characteristics when delivering bad news and use an appropriate communication style tailored to each patient.
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Palliat Support Care · Apr 2017
Psychiatry trainees' views and educational needs regarding the care of patients with a life-limiting illness.
People with a life-limiting physical illness experience high rates of significant psychological and psychiatric morbidity. Nevertheless, psychiatrists often report feeling ill-equipped to respond to the psychiatric needs of this population. Our aim was to explore psychiatry trainees' views and educational needs regarding the care of patients with a life-limiting physical illness. ⋯ Participants generally feel unprepared to care for patients with a life-limiting physical illness and have contrasting views on the role of psychiatry in this setting. Targeted education is required for psychiatry trainees in order to equip them to care for these patients.