Palliative medicine
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Social support is important in the bereavement period. In this study, the respondents were family members and friends to a patient who had died at a palliative care unit. The aim was to explore wishes and needs for, access to and effects of social support in the bereaved. ⋯ The network consisted of the close family, the origin family, relatives and friend. Support from the professional staff was required when the network was dysfunctional or when the grieving person did not want to burden members of his/her own network. The need for social support from professional staff was most needed close to the death and some time after.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2009
Professionals delivering palliative care to people with COPD: qualitative study.
This article describes health and social care professionals' perceptions of palliative care and facilitators and barriers to the delivery of such care for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Health professionals participated in semi structured interviews and focus groups which were analysed using content analysis. ⋯ Consequently the delivery of palliative care was viewed as a specialist role rather than an integral component of care. There is a need for education and training for health and social care professions to plan and provide high quality end-of-life care.