Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · May 2014
Review Meta AnalysisHome-based palliative care: a systematic literature review of the self-reported unmet needs of patients and carers.
There have been many studies on the unmet needs of palliative care patients and carers from the perspective of bereaved caregivers. However, the unmet needs of palliative care patients and carers from the perspective of current patients and their carers have received little research attention. ⋯ The focus therefore should be on improving other aspects of patient care, including communication by health professionals to prevent or reduce suffering in areas such as psychosocial domains. Valid and reliable quantitative measures of unmet needs in palliative care are needed to examine this area more rigorously.
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Palliative medicine · May 2014
A prospective evaluation of Dignity Therapy in advanced cancer patients admitted to palliative care.
Dignity Therapy is a brief, psychosocial intervention for patients with incurable disease. ⋯ This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting Dignity Therapy as a valuable intervention in palliative care; a substantial subset of patients facing end of life found it manageable, relevant and beneficial.
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Palliative medicine · May 2014
End-of-life care and achieving preferences for place of death in England: results of a population-based survey using the VOICES-SF questionnaire.
Health policy places emphasis on enabling patients to die in their place of choice, and increasing the proportion of home deaths. In this article, we seek to explore reported preferences for place of death and experiences of care in a population-based sample of deaths from all causes. ⋯ More work is needed to encourage people to talk about their preferences at the end of life: this should not be restricted to those known to be dying. Increasing knowledge and achievement of preferences for place of death may also improve end-of-life care.