Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · May 2013
ReviewA narrative literature review of the contribution of volunteers in end-of-life care services.
Volunteers are integral to the history of hospices and continue to play a vital role. However, economic, policy and demographic challenges in the twenty-first century raise questions about how best to manage this essential resource. ⋯ The tensions involved in negotiating the boundary spaces that volunteers inhabit, informality and regulation, diversity issues and the cultural specificity of community models, are suggested as topics that merit further research and could contribute to the continuing development of the volunteer workforce.
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Palliative medicine · May 2013
A qualitative study to explore psychological distress and illness burden associated with opioid-induced constipation in cancer patients with advanced disease.
Constipation affects many patients receiving long-term opioid therapy for cancer pain. Little is known about the nature of psychological distress and the burden associated with this problem. This information may inform the development of effective treatment strategies and ameliorate distress. ⋯ Future investigation of the multiple components of cognitive and affective burden from opioid-induced constipation is warranted. Understanding the varied nature of this burden may improve clinical recognition and assessment and promote more intensive management consistent with the distress it produces.
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Palliative medicine · May 2013
Preferences for end-of-life care: a nominal group study of people with dementia and their family carers.
The wishes and preferences of people with dementia should inform decisions on future care. However, such decisions are often left to family carers and may not reflect those the person with dementia would have made for themselves. We know little about what influences agreement between people with dementia and their carers. ⋯ Wishes and preferences of people with dementia and their family carers may differ. To ensure the wishes of people with dementia are respected, their views should be ascertained early in the disease before their ability to consider the future is compromised.
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Palliative medicine · May 2013
Validation of the Polish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 15 - Palliative Care in patients with advanced cancer.
Limited data exist on the validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 15 - Palliative Care in advanced cancer patients. ⋯ Polish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 15 - Palliative Care is a valid and reliable tool recommended for quality-of-life assessment and monitoring in advanced cancer patients.