Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2012
ReviewUsing observation as a data collection method to help understand patient and professional roles and actions in palliative care settings.
Observational research methods are important for understanding people's actions, roles and behaviour. However, these techniques are underused generally in healthcare research, including research in the palliative care field. ⋯ Qualitative observational data collection methods can contribute to theoretical and conceptual development and the explanation of social processes in palliative care. In particular this contribution to understanding care structures and processes should improve understanding of patients' experiences of their care journey and thus impact on care outcomes.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2012
ReviewEstablishing hospice care for prison populations: An integrative review assessing the UK and USA perspective.
models of care based on the hospice model have delivered effective support to dying people since their inception. Over the last 20 years this form of care has also been introduced into the prison system (mainly in the United States) to afford terminally ill inmates the right to die with dignity. ⋯ the provision of palliative care for the increasing prison population remains under-researched globally, with a notable lack of evidence from the United Kingdom.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2012
Designing and conducting randomized controlled trials in palliative care: A summary of discussions from the 2010 clinical research forum of the Australian Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative.
Rigorous clinical research in palliative care is challenging but achievable. Trial participants are likely to have deteriorating performance status, co-morbidities and progressive disease. It is difficult to recruit patients, and attrition unrelated to the intervention being trialled is high. ⋯ All active Australian researchers in palliative care were invited to present their current research and address three specific questions: (1) What has worked well? (2) What didn't work well? and (3) How should the research be done differently next time? Fourteen studies were presented, including six double-blind, randomized, controlled, multi-site trials run by the PaCCSC. Key recommendations are reported, including guidance on design; methodologies; and strategies for maximizing recruitment and retention. These recommendations will help to inform future trial design and conduct in palliative care.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2012
Reliability and validity of the Thai translation (Thai PPS Adult Suandok) of the Palliative Performance Scale (PPSv2).
the Thai PPS Adult Suandok tool was translated from the Palliative Performance Scale (PPSv2) and had been used in Chiang Mai, Thailand for several years. ⋯ the Thai PPS Adult Suandok translated tool has good inter- and intra-rater reliability and can be used regularly for clinical care.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2012
Incidence and causes for syringe driver site reactions in palliative care: A prospective hospice-based study.
Syringe drivers are routinely used in palliative care for the subcutaneous infusion of drugs for pain and symptom control. Local site reactions occurring at the site of infusion can lead to patient discomfort and the potential for sub-optimal symptom control. ⋯ Recommendations can be made for the frequency of syringe driver site changes based on which drugs are in use. Incidental findings from the study have been used to change practice at the hospice study site, with regard to choice of parenteral cannulae.