Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2023
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe ICaRAS randomised controlled trial: Intravenous iron to treat anaemia in people with advanced cancer - feasibility of recruitment, intervention and delivery.
Anaemia is highly prevalent in people with advanced, palliative cancer yet sufficiently effective and safe treatments are lacking. Oral iron is poorly tolerated, and blood transfusion offers only transient benefits. Intravenous iron has shown promise as an effective treatment for anaemia but its use for people with advanced, palliative cancer lacks evidence. ⋯ The trial was feasible according to recruitment and attrition rates. Intravenous iron increased haemoglobin and may improve fatigue specific quality of life measures compared to placebo. A definitive trial is required for confirmation.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2023
Using behavioral theories to study health-promoting behaviors in palliative care research.
Behavioral theories are often used to better understand and change health-promoting behaviors and develop evidence-based interventions. However, researchers often lack of knowledge on how to use these theories in palliative care and people confronted with serious illness. Clear examples or guidelines are needed. ⋯ This paper describes a method applied to a specific example, offering guidance for researchers and practitioners interested in understanding and changing a target behavior and its factors in seriously ill people.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2023
Over a third of palliative medicine physicians meet burnout criteria: Results from a survey study during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palliative medicine physicians may be at higher risk of burnout due to increased stressors and compromised resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout prevalence and factors influencing this among UK and Irish palliative medicine physicians is unknown. ⋯ Over one-third of palliative medicine physicians meet burnout criteria. The provision of enhanced organisational and colleague support is paramount in both the current and future pandemics.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2023
Impact of compounded drugs on the caregivers' burden of home therapy management in pediatric palliative care: A descriptive study.
Children with medical complexity need complex assistance, that considerably affects caregivers' quality of life. They often need multiple medications, with a consequent relevant risk of errors or poor compliance. Galenic (or compounded) drugs are blended in the pharmacy's laboratory worldwide according to different rules and tailoring the patient's needs. While their use may sometimes simplify these therapies, little is known about parents' attitude about this issue. ⋯ The therapy management of children with medical complexity relies on parents. Galenic compounds may improve both patients' and caregivers' quality of life, either in terms of shorter time of administration or smaller risk of errors. Therefore, their use should be encouraged worldwide, according to the different reference rules.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2023
What does 'good' palliative care look like for children and young people? A qualitative study of parents' experiences and perspectives.
Worldwide, around 21 million children would benefit from palliative care and over 7 million babies and children die each year. Whilst provision of paediatric palliative care is advancing, there major gaps between what should be done, and what is being done, in clinical practice. In 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) introduced a quality standard, to standardise and improve children's palliative care in England. However, there is little evidence about what good experiences of palliative care for children are, and how they relate to the quality standard for end-of-life care. ⋯ Findings have implications for informing evidence based practice and clinical guidelines, overall improving experiences of care.