Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2018
The engagement of young people in their own advance care planning process: A systematic narrative synthesis.
An increasing number of young people are living with life-limiting conditions. Current research about advance care planning for young people indicates differing experiences for those involved. Understanding how far young people are engaged in their own advance care plan is important to shape future practice and facilitate young people's wishes. ⋯ Irrespective of setting, engagement of young people would benefit their advance care planning. More detailed, high-quality research is needed to understand the extent of the barriers to young people's engagement in their own advance care plan and how to facilitate their involvement.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2018
The difficulties of discharging hospice patients to care homes at the end of life: A focus group study.
Discharge from inpatient palliative care units to long-term care can be challenging. In the United Kingdom, hospice inpatients move to a care home if they no longer require specialist palliative care and cannot be discharged home. There is evidence to suggest that patients and families find the prospect of such a move distressing. ⋯ Hospice palliative care unit staff find discharging patients to care homes necessary, but often unsatisfactory for themselves and distressing for patients and relatives. Further research is needed to understand patients' experiences concerning moving to care homes for end of life care, in order that interventions can be implemented to mitigate this distress.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2018
'Palliative sedation'? A retrospective cohort study on the use and labelling of continuously administered sedatives on a palliative care unit.
Sedatives are frequently used towards the end of life. However, there is scarce information when their use is labelled as 'palliative sedation'. ⋯ The prevalence of delirium/agitation was associated with the administration of continuous sedatives. There was no consistent pattern regarding labelling the use of continuous sedatives as '(palliative) sedation'. Multicentre mixed-methods research is needed for a better characterization of sedation practices in palliative care.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2018
Palliative care volunteerism across the healthcare system: A survey study.
Volunteers fulfil several roles in supporting terminally ill people and their relatives and can positively influence quality of care. Healthcare in many countries faces resource constraints and some governments now expect communities to provide an increasing proportion of palliative care. However, systematic insights into volunteer presence, tasks and training and organisational challenges for volunteerism are lacking. ⋯ Results suggest potential for larger volunteer contingents. The necessity of volunteer support and training and organisational coordination of recruitment efforts is emphasised. Organisations are encouraged to invest in adequate volunteer support and training. The potential of shared frameworks for recruitment and training of volunteers is discussed. Future research should study volunteerism at the volunteer level to contrast with organisational data.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2018
The involvement of cancer patients in the four stages of decision-making preceding continuous sedation until death: A qualitative study.
Involving patients in decision-making is considered to be particularly appropriate towards the end of life. Professional guidelines emphasize that the decision to initiate continuous sedation should be made in accordance with the wishes of the dying person and be preceded by their consent. ⋯ Decision-making about continuous sedation until death goes through four stages and the involvement of the patient in the decision-making varies. Acknowledging the potential sensitivity of raising the issue of end-of-life sedation, we recommend building into clinical practice regular opportunities to discuss the goals and preferences of the person who is dying for their future medical treatment and care.