Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · May 2023
ReviewExercise interventions for advanced cancer palliative care patients: A systematic literature review and descriptive evidence synthesis of randomized controlled trials.
Exercise is often recommended for cancer patients. However, for advanced cancer palliative care patients, it is unclear whether exercise, as a lifestyle intervention, is beneficial for palliative outcomes. ⋯ Current randomized controlled trials regarding effects of exercise interventions on palliative outcomes for advanced cancer patients show great variability. While studies show promise, no generalizable conclusions can be made. Further research is needed.
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Palliative medicine · May 2023
An emergency department nurse led intervention to facilitate serious illness conversations among seriously ill older adults: A feasibility study.
Serious illness conversations may lead to care consistent with patients' goals near the end of life. The emergency department could serve as an important time and location for these conversations. ⋯ A novel, emergency department-based, nurse-led brief motivational interview to stimulate serious illness conversations is feasible and may improve advance care planning engagement and documentation in seriously ill older adults.
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Palliative medicine · May 2023
Antibiotic therapy is associated with adverse drug events among older adults with advanced cancer: A cohort study.
Older adults with advanced cancer are exposed to antibiotics but estimates of adverse drug events associated with antibiotic therapy are lacking. ⋯ Antibiotic therapy was independently associated with adverse drug events in hospitalized older adults with advanced cancer. These findings may inform antibiotic decision-making among palliative care providers.
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Palliative medicine · May 2023
Implementation of clinical guidelines in specialized palliative care-results from a national improvement project: A national register-based study.
Knowledge about the process and the results of the implementation of clinical guidelines to improve palliative care is limited. A national project aimed at improving the quality of life of advanced cancer patients admitted to specialized palliative care services in Denmark by implementing clinical guidelines for the treatment of pain, dyspnea, constipation, and depression. ⋯ Implementing clinical guidelines was more successful for physical symptoms than for depression. The project generated national data on interventions provided when guidelines were followed, which may be used to understand differences in care and outcomes.
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Palliative medicine · May 2023
The experiences of family members witnessing the diminishing drinking of a dying relative in hospital: A narrative inquiry.
The optimal management of diminishing drinking at the end of life is contentious. Clinicians and family members may understand the phenomenon differently and hold divergent priorities regarding care. Family members can be distressed by diminishing drinking and its management, particularly when in a hospital environment. ⋯ There is potential to improve family members' experiences through re-conceptualisation of diminishing drinking aligned to their experiences, supporting family members by listening to their experiences with insight and strengthening their agency within the management of their relatives with diminishing drinking.