Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2016
ReviewEstablishing psychosocial palliative care standards for children and adolescents with cancer and their families: An integrative review.
Despite standardization in disease assessments and curative interventions for childhood cancer, palliative assessments and psychosocial interventions remain diverse and disparate. ⋯ The study team coordinated landmark psychosocial palliative care papers into an informed conceptual model (third-order construct) for approaching pediatric palliative care and psychosocial support in oncology settings.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialA cost-effectiveness study of person-centered integrated heart failure and palliative home care: Based on a randomized controlled trial.
Previous economic studies of person-centered palliative home care have been conducted mainly among patients with cancer. Studies on cost-effectiveness of advanced home care for patients with severe heart failure are lacking when a diagnosis of heart failure is the only main disease as the inclusion criterion. ⋯ The Palliative Advanced Home Care and Heart Failure Care working mode saves financial resources and should be regarded as very cost-effective.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2016
A multimethod analysis of shared decision-making in hospice interdisciplinary team meetings including family caregivers.
Much of the existing research on shared decision-making in hospice and palliative care focuses on the provider-patient dyad; little is known about shared decision-making that is inclusive of family members of patients with advanced disease. ⋯ The involvement of family caregivers in hospice interdisciplinary team meetings using video-conferencing technology creates a useful platform for shared decision-making; however, steps must be taken to transform family caregivers from meeting attendees to shared decision-makers.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2016
Patients' experiences of a new integrated breathlessness support service for patients with refractory breathlessness: Results of a postal survey.
We developed a new single point of access to integrated palliative care, respiratory medicine and physiotherapy: the breathlessness support service for patients with advanced disease and refractory breathlessness. This study aimed to describe patients' experiences of the service and identify the aspects valued. ⋯ Patients' satisfaction with the breathlessness support service was high, and identified as important to this was a combination of personalised care, nature of staff, education and empowerment, and use of specific interventions. These components would be important in any future breathlessness service.
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2016
Introducing a model incorporating early integration of specialist palliative care: A qualitative research study of staff's perspectives.
Palliative care has evolved to encompass early integration, with evaluation of patient and organisational outcomes. However, little is known of staff's experiences and adaptations when change occurs within palliative care services. ⋯ Services introducing and researching innovative models of palliative care need to ensure adequate preparation, maintenance of holistic care principles in faster work-paced contexts and assist staff dealing with demands associated with caring for patients at different stages of illness trajectories.