Palliative medicine
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2022
Impact of expected parental death on the health of adolescent and young adult children: A systematic review of the literature.
Few studies of health impacts of parental death focus on the developmental stage of adolescence and young adulthood and in particular, expected parental death from terminal illness. ⋯ This review specifically analysed the health impact of expected parental death on adolescent and young adult children. It highlights their need for age-appropriate psychosocial support and clear information during parental illness, death and bereavement.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2022
Facilitators and barriers in using comics to support family caregivers of patients receiving palliative care at home: A qualitative study.
Family caregiving at home is highly important for people receiving palliative treatment, but also a complex experience, subject to implicit social expectations. This study empirically explored the claim that comics benefit palliative care practice, through evaluating a graphic novel's value as an aid in supportive conversations with family caregivers. ⋯ Emotionally impactful comics may support bereaved family caregivers, but should be introduced with care among current family caregivers, for example, ensuring a right fit, introduction, and follow-up-while taking into account a caregiver's individual situation, needs, abilities, and affinity with the medium. Comics are preferably used in educational settings, contributing to professional awareness and tailored support of family caregivers.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2022
Employment and family caregiving in palliative care: An international qualitative study.
Family caregivers provide the majority of palliative care. The impact of family caregiving on employment and finances has received little research attention in the field of palliative care. ⋯ Supporting carers to retain employment whilst providing care has potential benefits for the patient at end of life, the caregiver, and the wider economy and labour market. Employers, policymakers and governments have a role to play in developing and implementing policies to support working carers to remain in employment.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2022
Meta AnalysisEfficacy of medicinal cannabis for appetite-related symptoms in people with cancer: A systematic review.
Anorexia (loss of appetite) is a prevalent and distressing symptom in people with cancer, with limited effective interventions. Medicinal cannabis has shown promise in improving appetite-related symptoms in people with cancer. ⋯ Evidence from RCTs that medicinal cannabis increases appetite in people with cancer is limited. Measures, outcomes and interventions were variable, and toxicities have not been comprehensively evaluated. Future research should carefully consider biological mechanisms to guide more nuanced selection of endpoints and interventions, including product, dose and administration.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2022
Pharmacovigilance in hospice/palliative care: Net effect of amitriptyline or nortriptyline on neuropathic pain: UTS/IMPACCT Rapid programme international consecutive cohort.
Real-world effectiveness of interventions in palliative care need to be systematically quantified to inform patient/clinical decisions. Neuropathic pain is prevalent and difficult to palliate. Tricyclic antidepressants have an established role for some neuropathic pain aetiologies, but this is less clear in palliative care. ⋯ Benefits favoured amitriptyline while harms were similar for both medications.