Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2022
Progress update: Palliative care development between 2017 and 2020 in five African countries.
This article provides a progress update on the development of palliative care in five countries in Africa-Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda-between 2017 and 2021, and explores the role of palliative care advocates and the Open Society Foundations in this process. ⋯ The experiences in these countries suggest that mixing advocacy, communications, and technical assistance can lead to substantial progress for patient access although full inclusion in universal health coverage remained uncertain in all but Rwanda.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2022
Locating Advance Care Planning Documents in the Electronic Health Record during Emergency Care.
Emergency Departments (EDs) care for people at critical junctures in their illness trajectories, but Advanced Care Planning (ACP) seldom happens during ED visits. One barrier to incorporating patient goals into ED care may be locating ACP documents in the electronic health record (EHR). ⋯ Even under optimal conditions with social work availability, ACP documents are lacking for ED patients. Multiple potential locations of ACP documents and inaccurate linkage to the Storyboard are potentially addressable barriers to ACP conversations.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2022
Palliative Care Services within a Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program in a Low-Resource Setting.
Outcomes for children with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SAA) are dismal due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to curative therapy. When establishing a pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) program in low-resource settings, early integration of palliative care services becomes essential. While palliative care is a human right, equitable distribution is lacking. ⋯ Palliative care is a critical component of PHO programs worldwide. Programs must leverage existing networks to ensure optimal care to children and families. We demonstrate the feasibility of integrating palliative care services within a PHO program in a low-resource setting, which could serve as a model for other countries in SSA.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2022
Multicenter StudyPalliative and End-of-Life Care After Severe Stroke.
The distinct illness trajectory after acute ischemic stroke demands a better understanding of the utilization of palliative care consultations (PCC) for this patient cohort. This study sought to determine the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes associated with PCC for patients hospitalized with severe ischemic stroke. ⋯ Most patients with severe stroke do not receive PCC, even among those who experience in-hospital death. The results of this study indicate there are missed opportunities for PCC to help reduce suffering after severe stroke.