Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
ReviewPalliative care development in Asia Pacific region: A review of assessment indicators.
Organizations such as Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network functions to promote quality palliative care development through training and education, research collaboration and variety relevant projects and events for all in the Asia and Pacific region. ⋯ Palliative care development is largely influenced by policies and funding structures as well as by cultural views and beliefs of stakeholders. It is expected that individuals, stakeholders and practitioners in Asia Pacific might have differing views and cultural beliefs when compared to the European or western counterparts. The lack of details and documentation in the region and inadequate reporting measures impacts on the development of strong palliative care framework.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Implementation of a palliative hospital-centered spiritual and psychological telehealth system during COVID-19 pandemic.
The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in limited provision of palliative care and hospital teams have had to rise to the challenge of how to deliver care safely to people with palliative needs. Telehealth interventions have been seen as a useful resource with potential to improve clinical effectiveness. ⋯ This report demonstrates that it is possible to provide spiritual and psychological palliative care to hospitalized patients and families during pandemic restrictions through interdisciplinary telehealth delivery.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Pediatric Death by Neurologic Criteria: The Ever-Changing Landscape and the Expanding Role of Palliative Care Professionals.
Pediatric palliative care providers are especially suited to support families and medical teams facing a potential diagnosis of brain death, or death by neurologic criteria (DNC), when a child suffers a devastating brain injury. To support pediatric palliative care providers' effectiveness in this role, this article elucidates the clinical determination of DNC and the evolution of the ethical and legal controversies surrounding DNC. ⋯ We describe these conceptual definitions and legal challenges then explore some potential reasons why families may dispute a determination of DNC. We conclude that working with patients, families, and healthcare providers facing DNC carries inherent and unique challenges suited to intervention by interdisciplinary palliative care teams.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Clinical relevance and prognostic value of inflammatory biomarkers: a prospective study in terminal cancer patients receiving palliative care.
Inflammatory biomarkers have prognostic value in cancer patients, but the feasibility of their use with terminal cancer patients and the related cutoff points are poorly explored. ⋯ The inflammatory biomarkers analyzed are independent predictive factors for death within 90 days in terminal cancer patients. CAR appears to be the most useful parameter for predicting survival in these patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Palliative Care Use for Critically Ill Patients with Brain Metastases.
Critically ill patients with brain metastases (BM) face significant uncertainty regarding prognosis and survival and can benefit from Palliative care (PC). However, research regarding the role of PC in this population is lacking. ⋯ In our patient cohort, PC is an underutilized service that can assist in complex medical decision making and symptom management of critically ill BM patients. Further prospective studies surveying patient, family and provider experiences could better inform the qualitative impact of PC in this unique patient population.