Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2023
Observational StudyPEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE AT HOME: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON SUBCUTANEOUS DRUG ADMINISTRATION.
The subcutaneous route is a useful alternative for drug administration in palliative care. Although there is scientific evidence on its use in adult patients, the literature in pediatric palliative care is almost nonexistent. ⋯ In the pediatric palliative care patients studied, the subcutaneous route is most frequently used for administering morphine and midazolam in continuous infusion. The main complication was induration, especially with longer dwell times or higher infusion rates. However, further studies are required to optimize management and prevent complications.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2023
Awareness and actual knowledge of palliative care among older people: a Dutch national survey.
Lack of public knowledge of palliative care may be a barrier to timely use of palliative care and hinder engagement in advance care planning (ACP). Little research has been conducted on (the relationship between) awareness and actual knowledge of palliative care. ⋯ Knowledge of palliative care is limited, stressing the need for population-wide interventions, including information meetings. Attention should be paid to timely attention for palliative care needs. This might stimulate ACP and raise public knowledge of (im) possibilities of palliative care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2023
A Worksheet to Facilitate Discussions of Values for Patients with Metastatic Cancer: a Pilot Study.
Individual goals and values should drive medical decision making for patients with serious illness. Unfortunately, clinicians' existing strategies to encourage reflection and communication regarding patients' personal values are generally time-consuming and limited in scope. ⋯ The Values Worksheet was a feasible way to facilitate at-home discussions of goals and values for select patients with metastatic cancer. Further research should focus on identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from the Values Worksheet, and should employ the Worksheet as one tool to facilitate reflection on the questions that arise around serious illness, as an adjunct to serious illness conversations with a physician.