Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2020
Mild to moderate cognitive impairment does not affect the ability to self-report important symptoms in cancer patients: a prospective longitudinal multi-national study (EPCCS).
Patients with advanced cancer commonly suffer from both distressing symptoms and cognitive impairment, but the effect of cognitive impairment on the reliability and validity of symptom self-report is unknown. ⋯ In advanced cancer, self-report of nine major symptoms was reliable and valid also in people with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2020
Beliefs and perceptions about parenteral nutrition and hydration by family members of patients with advanced cancer admitted to palliative care units: a nationwide survey of bereaved family members in Japan.
There has been a growing consensus that parenteral nutrition and hydration is to be forgone in terminally ill patients with cancer. However, it remains unclear what the beliefs and perceptions of parenteral nutrition and hydration by the family members are. ⋯ This study showed that beliefs and perceptions about parenteral nutrition and hydration were important in the family members in palliative care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2020
CommentPalliative Care Utilization among Patients with COVID-19 in an Underserved Population: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.
As health-care institutions mobilize resources to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, palliative care may potentially be underutilized. It is important to assess the use of palliative care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ There was a low utilization rate of palliative care in patients with COVID-19. Conscious utilization of palliative care is needed at the time of COVID-19.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2020
The Impact of Aliviado Dementia Care-Hospice Edition Training Program on Hospice Staff's Dementia Symptom Knowledge.
As the aging population grows, the incidence of dementia continues to increase substantially. However, the lack of a significant geriatric health care workforce as well as little dementia training among generalist health care workers leads to suboptimal care for persons living with dementia (PLWD). In particular, few evidence-based interventions exist to improve the quality of dementia care among hospice interdisciplinary teams caring for PLWD. Aliviado Dementia Care-Hospice Edition is a quality assurance and performance improvement program that includes training, mentoring, and workflow enhancements, which aims to improve quality of hospice care provided to PLWD and their caregivers. ⋯ Aliviado is an evidence-based system-level intervention that improves clinical knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in treating PLWD enrolled in hospice.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2020
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Palliative Care in the Context of COVID-19:Pragmatic Recommendations for Clinicians.
As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to impact the seriously ill and their families on a global scale, considerations given to marginalized groups amid the pandemic are essential to ensure the provision of high-quality and dignified care. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender-nonconforming, and queer/questioning-identified (LGBTQ+) persons are particularly vulnerable to health inequities across settings, including palliative care and at the end of life. ⋯ We aim to fill this gap by providing essential health inequity and social support background pertaining to LGBTQ+ persons and practical recommendations for immediate implementation that support inclusive and respectful care for these populations. Using these recommendations is a pragmatic pathway to promote trust, transparency, patient and family engagement, and value concordant care amid the health system strain caused by COVID-19.